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| Metro to use prison labor for refurbishments |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 11/03/2003 |
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Virginia prisoners will refurbish Metrorail car seats as part of a new, $1.8 million contract. The contract, between Virginia Correctional Enterprises and Metro, will cost the transit agency $293,457 in the first year and will be open for annual renewal through 2008. Metro has about 380 spare seat bottoms and backs to serve its 888 rail cars. The bottoms and backs are replaced when they become worn or damaged, which requires removing the train cars from service. The prison labor contract will ensure Metro does not have to remove its rail cars from service because of damaged seating for prolonged periods of time, officials said. Metro will send 3,956 backs and 13,056 seat bottoms to the prison system during the contract's first year. The prison system was chosen because of its ability to pick up, repair and return the damaged seats quickly, Taubenkibel said. This is not the first time Metro has used prison labor. Inmates at Lorton Correctional Facility repaired the damaged seats there before it closed. Two non-prison contractors submitted higher bids than Virginia Correctional Enterprises for the Metro contract. Bergen and Needles Eye lacked the personnel and were unable to meet Metro's demand for a quick repair turnaround time, Taubenkibel said. Also, he added, neither competitor was willing to expand their operations to meet Metro's demands. Transit agency officials were unsure which specific prison would work on the contract. The prison system enlists inmate labor at 14 facilities around the Virginia. Nonviolent inmates who apply and are accepted into the prison industrial program learn a trade and receive skills they can use outside of prison. Inmates are paid the "prevailing wage," according to the Virginia Department of Corrections' Web site. Virginia Correctional Industries produces a variety of goods, from upholstery to clothing, while allowing prisoners to partially pay for their housing, court costs, restitution and other expenses. |
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