Project Management Oversight (PMO) Capital Projects

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.

The bridge that carries the Milwaukee District North Line over Milwaukee Avenue near Kilbourne Avenue was built in 1899. It will be replaced with a new bridge with new abutments. Grayland Station, just south of the bridge, will be rebuilt with longer platforms, new public address equipment, visual information signs, shelters with on-demand heat on each side, new lighting and new stairs and ramps, making it fully ADA-compliant.

Computer Systems/Hardware & Software - Projects in 2021 include upgrades, licenses, and training for Hastus route-scheduling software, RideCheck ridership data software, ArcGIS software, and the Pace website. Procurement of digital screens for the interior of buses is also included.

This project consists of three phases. Phase A is for rail car motor replacement and was completed in October 2019. Phase B is for procurement and installation ofthe propulsion kits with the parts contract was executed, and kits were received. Work for this phase began in November 2019 and all 90 cars were completed inAugust 2020. Phase C is for the procurement of material contracts and installation. The contract was approved at the October 2020. The first delivery ofmaterial is expected to arrive in May 2021 and the overhaul is expected to take place in the first half of 2022.

CTA Open Fare Payment System - Equipment (Lease) - VENTRA: funds will provide in part for the principal and interest of the agreement need for the Open Fare Standard equipment, hardware, and software costs.The contractor (Cubic) costs including, but are not limited to, expenses incurred to design, build, finance, operate, maintain, repair and replace the equipment, the software and the Open Standards Fare System, and provide the Services, in accordance with the specifications and performance at the service levels and perform any other obligations pursuant to this Agreement.The capital share of the annual Base component cost is $15 million which provides for necessary design, testing, purchase and installation of assets such as the following: Ventra Vending Machines, Mobile Data Validators (readers), Driver Terminal Displays, retail terminals, and B26all software applications, and back-end hardware.

Additional construction funds are provided to this project to complete the rehabilitation of the Homewood Metra Station and associated intermodal facilities on the Metra Electric (ME) Line. The scope of work may include, but is not limited to, general tunnel rehabilitation, tunnel drainage solutions, elevator and stair improvements, the addition of a pedestrian ramp into the tunnel on the west end of the station, platform improvements, warming shelter, and head house improvements, and improvements to the Pace and Amtrak facilities.

Metra’s Union Pacific North (UP-N) Line will undergo significant rehabilitation in 2022. Union Pacific Railroad’s crews will replace ties, clean or replace ballast, and replace switch components on the northern extents of the UP-N Line. This project improves the riding quality of the trains and reduces the incidence of slow orders, which can impact the ability to maintain on-time performance. Metra provides funds to improve the track along the UP-N Line and other lines and yard facilities owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.

Farebox System Replacement - Over 700 fareboxes on Pace fixed route buses will be replaced, with prior PAYGO funding of $7.5M from 2020 included.

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

Tactical Traction Power (Equipment/Cable/Enclosures) -The purpose of this project is to implement traction power system improvements that will enable the CTA to continue to meet existing traction power needs, increase traction power capacity to meet future demand, and address state of good repair by repairing or replacing worn or obsolete equipment.