Project Management Oversight (PMO) Capital Projects

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 acquired an existing warehouse facility to develop a centralized warehouse for materials that support the activities of the commuter railroad system. The central warehouse will combine 4 existing buildings that are overcrowded and create efficiencies by allowing Metra to buy in bigger quantities and lower freight delivery costs. Renovations will continue as part of a multi-year, phase-funded project.

This project involves upgrades to protected grade crossings to improve safety and reliability of grade crossing protections. Metra has approximately 300 active grade crossings with warning devices. This project will fund upgrades of circuitry at these grade crossings to the latest technology. Metra will install monitors to remotely check the condition of the grade crossing protection system. When a monitor detects an anomaly, the system will send notice to the back office and dispatch a signal maintainer to perform repairs.

This project is the first phase of installing up to 310 ticket vending machines (TVMs) at selected stations throughout the Metra system to provide added amenities to Metra customers. The TVMs will offer a variety of ticket purchasing options and make purchasing tickets faster, easier, and more convenient for our customers. The TVMs will be fully ADA-accessible and will offer the ability to purchase tickets using contactless cards and mobile wallet applications and will no longer need to insert debit/credit cards into the machine.

Life Extending Overhaul - Up to 430 Standard (1000 Series) - This project will overhaul the engine and other major sub-components to provide the minimal amount of work necessary to keep the fleet going. By end of FY2020 630 buses will have met their estimated 12 year life expectancy. This extension would extend the bus life by four years. The life extension for the 40 foot 1000-1629 New Flyer Bus is essential to keeping a majority of the CTA fleet running in optimal condition. The current fleet of 40 foot NF buses is over 1000 buses. This project is essential to meet availability requirements for CTA. These buses were purchased in 2006-2007 and this life extension is essential to maintaining peak availability requirements at all 7 bus garages.

Purchases various pieces of equipment that will be utilized at Metra Headquarters and outlying Metra facilities. Purchases may include, but are not limited to, replacement of obsolete information technology infrastructure, upgrade network switches, computers and printers, copiers, new and replacement servers, financial system software, and other software.

Funding will provide for second installment of funds to rehabilitate and/or replace elevators throughout the system. This funding along with the granted Rebuild Illinois funds provide in part for phase one of the program. For the Elevator Replacement Program, complete inspection of an elevator will need to be conducted to identify all deficiencies. Once inspections are complete, the CTA will need to determine whether rehabilitation or replacement is warranted. The individual scope of work for each elevator will vary depending on its condition and elevator type (machine room-less (MRL), geared, gearless, or hydraulic). Inspections of all components of the following systems are required to determine the full scope of work at each individual elevator and to determine whether rehabilitation or replacement is warranted:• Mechanical Systems• Electrical Systems• Material Finishes• Control Systems• Communication Systems• Security Systems• Structural Members• ADA Code Compliance • Municipality Building Code Compliance

This project involves the purchase of various pieces of equipment to be utilized by Metra’s Engineering Department. Equipment purchased under this project will include end loaders, track backhoes, hi-rail equipment for track inspection, track tampers, track stabilizers, tie cranes, and other equipment.

This project will fund the installation of shelters at stations across the system, which will provide on-demand heat. Specific locations are to be determined, based on existing conditions and demand. Shelters will be pre-fabricated structures and may include on-demand heating elements.

This project involves lifting a bridge between 78th Street and 79th Street on Metra’s Rock Island Line. The bridge spans over three sets of railroad tracks owned by The Belt Railway of Chicago and Norfolk Southern in Chicago at milepost 8.7. This project is a necessary component of the new Auburn Park station project.