This project involves the life‐extending rehabilitation of up to 85 commuter cars,
originally built by the Budd Company between 1974 and 1978, last rehabilitated
between 1990 and 1993. The rehab includes, but is not limited to, replacement
and/or repair to electrical and control lines, heating and lighting systems,
replacement of seats, floors, walls, AC units, overhaul of trucks, replacement of all
windows, door mechanisms, and emergency lighting requirements, etc..

This project funds the long-term railcar replacement program and will purchase up to 500 state-of-the-art railcars. The modern, multilevel railcars will offer a smoother and more comfortable ride. Metra's new railcars will have two entranceways on each side with doors nearly level to the platform which will improve the speed of boarding and deboarding at each station. Boarding will require only one step to enter and faster wheelchair lifts will bridge the slight difference between the station platform and the floor of the railcars.

This project funds the continued rehabilitation of self-propelled electric cars used on the Metra Electric. The cars delivered between 2005 and 2007. This first rehabilitation may include, but is not limited to, repair of the car body structure, interior components, and overhaul of propulsion control systems.

This project involves the purchase of a digital video recording (DVR) system. The system will replace the 12-year old, obsolete system currently running on Metra’s rolling stock. The new system will allow for video recording of railroad signal aspects and incidents and includes inward-facing cameras and outward-facing, dual-lens cameras.

Metra's investment in innovative, cleaner energy locomotives will be funded in part by this project which will procure multiple-unit car that produce zero mobile emissions. This multi-year, multi-phase project will acquire battery-electric trainsets. Metra will be among the first passenger rail transit agencies to purchase and operate self-propelled trainsets that will not require the construction and maintenance of wayside power.

Metra will procure 7 new, cleaner switcher locomotives to retire the current fleet that first went into service at least 50, and as many as, 85 years ago. One all-electric, zero-emission switch locomotive would be the first in Metra’s fleet. Six additional switch locomotives purchased under this project will meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Tier IV standards, the highest emission standards currently in effect.

This project involves the mid-life rehabilitation of bi-level trailer and cab cars. Nippon Sharyo Corporation built and delivered the cars between 2002 and 2008. This is the first major rehabilitation of these commuter cars and will be performed in multiple phases.

This project funds the overhaul of traction motors and traction alternators for locomotives. This project also involves the overhaul of auxiliary generators and head-end-power (HEP) alternators. The overhauled equipment will be used on locomotives operated on railroads either owned or operated by Metra. A basic overhaul is required to return these motors to an acceptable level of performance.

This project will implement the FRA-mandated replacement of wheelsets on Metra’s fleet of locomotives and commuter cars. The replacement wheels will be used on vehicles being operated on all carriers and railroads in the Metra system as part of an ongoing program to overhaul major rolling stock components.

This project will fund the conversion of three diesel locomotives to zero-emission battery power. The battery powered locomotives will be fully compatible with Metra's existing fleet and will be capable of operating on any Metra line that uses diesel-hauled trains. The batteries will provide motive power as well as onboard systems such as lighting, intercoms, and HVAC.