Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) Projects

The scope includes replacement of the current IBS equipment, which includes 725 units of Intelligent Vehicle Logic Units (IVLU), Mobile Data Terminals (MDT), antennas, interface cabling, adapter cables, radio cables, and installation & conversion kits, replacement of 34 access points, and the purchase of two MCC-7100 dispatch radios. This project will be phased in over three years using ICE funding. Pace will award a single contract for the whole scope, but will award funding as it becomes available over the three year period.

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.

This project will install a new back-office revenue accounting system to replace the existing system. The replacements will include servers and related hardware, and software and related programming. The system will be configured to be compatible with the existing point-of-sale terminals throughout the Metra system and the software that operates those terminals.

This project includes operational improvements as follows: #4 - Selected trips to operate to and from 115th/Cottage Grove; #26 - Expanded hours of service and all trips will now begin and end at 103rd/Stony Island; #34 - More frequent midday and evening service; #71 - More frequent midday service with all trips operating to/from 112th/Torrence improving frequency of service south of 73rd Street; #95 - Routes 95E and 95W have been combined into a single route providing more convenient service for customers traveling along 95th Street; #119 - More frequent midday and evening service; and Green Line - More frequent service from Cottage Grove and 63rd/Ashland during AM and PM rush.

This project consists of a Pantograph inspection system and ultrasonic detection system that will allow for the real-time inspection of cars and locomotives. The existing cameras at Randolph Street Station will be replaced with cameras incorporating XTD (Extreme True Definition Imagery) and structured white LED strobe lights will be added at each camera location to provide illumination. These high speed cameras will be strategically-placed so as not to interrupt operations.

Scope: This project is for a pilot program to guide the installation of Metra's Automated Passenger Count system. Metra will issue a LIQ (Letter of Inquiry) to retain a consultant that has knowledge of the state-of the art technology and data utilization. The project may have two components - one being camera driven and the other infra-red driven.

Furnish and install a Network and Telephone Systems Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery system. This project will provide funding to meet control center requirements: a) Deploy Alternate Control Center: The alternate control center should include full functionality similar to the current primary CTA control center. The resources needed to perform the specified functions should be defined, documented, and included in the plan for the alternate control center. b) Information Technology Applications Required for Disaster Recovery: Assess current applications technology stack, address any required upgrades prior to implementing Disaster Recovery solutions, and propose alternative technology solutions for required field technology components (i.e. RF communications infrastructure cannot be duplicated).

This project is for the purchase of software that uses train schedules to determine the minimum amount of crews members needed to operate service. This software will be used with the new electronic crew calling system that helps Metra better comply with Passenger Hours of Service (PHOS) regulation for hours of service reporting requirements.

Replace inefficient thermally broken storefront entrance systems with new heavy duty monumental type aluminum doors at the 203 N. LaSalle side of the Clark/Lake platform and the SOIC side of the Clark/Lake platform. The replacement of sixteen (16) total doors including but not limited to eight (8) transom lights and sixteen (16) heavy duty closers. Includes Clark/Lake entrance doors to platform at State of Illinois center.

Update of Planning/Scheduling software application used for planning, operations,customer information, and analysis. The Chicago Transit Authority uses Hastus software to optimize the efficiency of bus and rail vehicle schedules and operator assignments system-wide. This software is used for seasonal bus schedule changes, 4x annually, and for rail schedule changes, twice annually. In addition, Hastus is used to generate supplemental schedules associated with school trips and special events. Furthermore, it provides critical reporting for CTA's operations, bidding and budget functions as well as for external stakeholders. Hastus software has been the agency's exclusive transit scheduling tool since 1999.