Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) Projects

Funds will be used for the development and deployment of the Ventra Mobile Application and to provide improvements to the Ventra system such as the Express Menu on Ventra vending machines. The mobile application, for use on smartphones, will enhance the customer experience by providing an application to manage Ventra accounts, purchase fare products, receive account alerts, gain scheduling and trip planning information, interact with customer service and purchase tickets. In addition, the Express Menu on Ventra vending machines will allow customers to quickly purchase a Single-ride ticket or Pass products.

The scope of work would include the design, fabrication, installation, and 3 years of warranty and maintenance of thin panel LED, luminous platform signs at up to six Metra stations. Training for Metra staff for the ongoing troubleshooting and operations of the new signs, and training of Metra staff and forces for the potential installation of future phases of luminous signs would also be included. Limited user testing and customer survey evaluations would also be included. Installation of hard-wired electrical power at all locations, and potential electrical upgrades to electrical service and panels would be included as needed. New photosensors and radar systems to trigger the brightening of otherwise dimly-lit signs upon train approach would also be installed as part of the scope of work.

The scope of this project is to replace the fluorescent main lighting on the Amerail cars in the Metra fleet with LED main lighting.

This project will involve the installation of gate boards and big boards at downtown stations. The entire project will include up to 80 gate boards at the 5 downtown stations.

2021 funding will be for radio equipment to be purchased and installed on buses to enhance the existing Cradlepoint system to upgrade to 5G technology for vehicle to infrastructure communication (innovation and enhancement). 2022 funding will be used for TSP implementation along priority corridors as part of the Regional Transit Signal Priority Implementation Program and integration of regional traffic management centers. Funds from the 2022 ICE grant are intended to be used to connect Pace TSP central system to Lake County DOT Traffic Management Center (TMC) to achieve Centralized Transit Signal Priority Systems. Tasks include (but are not limited to) establishing a working group, developing system engineering management plan, systems/software development and integration, related equipment, proof-of-concept deployment, and a system evaluation report.

New integrated solutions will be deployed to support Metra's Transportation Division's operations. Included in this are enhancements and new functionality for Metra's crew calling systems, new solutions to integrate existing technology footprint, and efforts to perform business process optimization and organizational design optimization.

Quick Change Oil System - (1) reduces time to change oil - optimizes preventive maintenance; (2) Improves cleanliness, minimum oil spillage; (3) Bus Mechanic labor savings.

This project will design, purchase, and install new digital train tracking displays and back lit station identification signs. Video boards will display real-time train tracking and service alerts as well as other visual information. At least one sign is planned to be installed at and/or near the primary entrance to Metra's five downtown Chicago terminals. New train tracking displays will improve our communication with the customer and better accommodate ESL and/or non-English speakers and improve ADA compliance. Back lit station identification signs will greet Metra riders as they board and depart the terminal stations.

This project involves improvements to the Blue Island, Vermont Street Interagency Transfer Station, in particular additional interagency signage at multiple locations, including both Metra stations. The commuter share represents 100% of the total project cost.