Phoenix - Boston firm awarded light rail contract

Boston-based Alternate Concepts Inc. bid on the five-year contract for $3 million under the official estimate, beating out four competitors. It will operate trains and run the central control center. Metro's governing board on Thursday awarded a $27 million contract to the firm that will run the light-rail system when it opens in late 2008. So far Alternate Concepts Inc. has been responsible for oversight of the Puerto Rico and Houston transit systems, both of which have been known to be troublesomely maintained.

The Arizona Republic