Metra will install a new switchgear system that can supply Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) switchgear along the Metra Electric (ME) Line. This project will replace obsolete assets with a new system designed to protect the DC powered railway line and integrated with high-speed circuit breakers for the rectifier, the power feeder, and the backup application to prevent safety incidents.

These projects provide for the renewal of rail highway grade crossings at various locations on the Union Pacific Lines. The specific crossings to be renewed will be based on the stage of deterioration at each crossing. The work will include, but not be limited to, replacement of cross ties, crossing material, and ballast, as well as the surfacing of the track.

This project will replace various signal infrastructure such as junction boxes, electrical cabinets, wiring, LED lights, and other essential components on an as-needed basis. Locations and scope of work are determined upon routine inspection or failure.

This project funds the in-house design and installation of necessary telecommunications hardware to migrate from land-line telephones at various Metra facilities to modern VoIP phone systems. Metra Telecommunications engineers will complete the necessary design, configuration, and installation of the new phones and system components, software upgrades, cyber security updates, and related components. This project will realize cost savings as Metra will be able to disconnect expensive phone lines and all project work will be completed by Metra forces.

This project will replace the 16th Street interlocking with a modern solid-state automated electronic system at a junction with tracks owned by Canadian National (CN) near 16th Street in Chicago. The 16th Street interlocking plant consists of an obsolete manual interlocking with two outdated hand lever machines built in 1901 and 1929. There are no manufacturers of spare or replacement equipment for these machines.

This project will replace various signal infrastructure such as junction boxes, electrical cabinets, wiring, LED lights, and other essential components on an as-needed basis. Locations and scope of work are determined upon routine inspection or failure.

This project will fund the design, replacement, and expansion of the Harvey Substation along the Metra Electric (ME) Line. The rectifiers are several decades old, difficult to repair due to a lack of spare components, and they have long exceeded their useful life. This project is a prerequisite for additional service capacity. The project is part of an ongoing program to repair and replace components of the electrical power distribution system and will allow for additional trains to be scheduled.

This project consists of the modernization and upgrading of the Lake Street interlocker at the north end of the Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC), including replacement of track, track bed, switches, switch machines, switch heaters, dwarf signals and signal cable. In the future, the interlocking control machine in Lake Street Tower will be replaced by modern equipment.

This project will fund the design, replacement, and expansion of the Vollmer Substation along the Metra Electric (ME) Line. The rectifiers are several decades old, difficult to repair due to a lack of spare components, and they have long exceeded their useful life. This project is a prerequisite for additional service capacity. The project is part of an ongoing program to repair and replace components of the electrical power distribution system and will allow for additional trains to be scheduled.

This project consists of the replacement of the coaxial cable and copper cable used to conduct voice and signal data on the Metra Electric District’s Main Line. The fiber optic cable will connect to the recent installation on the South Chicago Branch and Blue Island Branch and extend to the downtown terminal. Existing cable will be replaced with fiber optic cable. New cable will be hung on the catenary structures in a manner similar to the existing cable.

This project will fund an engineering study of constant tension technology for the potential application to the Metra Electric (ME) District. The catenary system is currently undergoing extensive rehabilitation. Constant tension technology may be added to the catenary rehabilitation project scope pending the results of this study.

This project will fund the design, replacement, and expansion of the Brookdale Substation along the Metra Electric (ME) Line. The rectifiers are several decades old, difficult to repair due to a lack of spare components, and they have long exceeded their useful life. This project is a prerequisite for additional service capacity. The project is part of an ongoing program to repair and replace components of the electrical power distribution system and will allow for additional trains to be scheduled.

This project will provide design and construction funds for the replacement of the Morgan Street Interlocking on Metra’s Milwaukee C&M subdivision, the signal system infrastructure between Canal Street and A-2 interlocking. The Morgan St. Interlocker and crossings were originally installed in the early 1960’s. The signal system is also affected by the extreme weather conditions common to the Chicago region. It has become extremely difficult in recent years to get parts to make repairs to keep the system operational.