Metra Board Votes To Equip All Trains with Defibrillators
By Chuck Sudo in News on Aug 12, 2011 7:20PM
The Tribune reports Metra's board voted to equip all of its trains with defibrillators. Metra becomes the second commuter rail line in the country to do so.
This being Metra, the question now becomes how will the $1.1 million estimated cost be paid for and who will get paid to sell defibrillators to the rail agency? Right now, the cost will be added to Metra's capital budget, but Metra is considering other options to foot the bill like corporate sponsorships. It's also unclear when the installation of the defibrillators will begin and if the purchase of them will be put out to bid or bought through a state contract.
At a cost of $1,000 to $1,200, some company is going to make a cool amount of cash. But Metra director Jack Schaffer said, "One way or another we have to provide them."