Innovation, Coordination, and Enhancement (ICE) Projects

Upgrades to Switch Machines to incorporate a predictive maintenance approach in addition to the preventive maintenance performed on switches and proactively replace critical signal equipment. Such an upgrade and approach should reduce switch downtime and enhance switch reliability.

This project involves providing engineering field staff with electronic data collection devices for reporting incidents and conditions of the system. It will streamline data collection from paper to electronic, providing instant connection to 547. FY 2015 ICE funds will be used for this project.

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 involves the replacement of DVRs on Metra locomotives, cab cars, and EMUs with a new technology that is faster and less grainy. Inward facing cameras, as required by the Federal FAST Act will also be included.

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.

CTA proposes to install Digital Customer Information Displays and non-digital customer focused information throughout the system. Digital displays provide real time bus tracker and/or train tracker information as appropriate, system status updates and CTA customer alerts. These are interspersed with paid advertisements, time and weather information. The paid advertisements support the operation of the machines and provide a source of revenue to CTA. There are two types of digital displays, internal or external. Internal digital displays have been installed at seventeen stations that are characterized by high traffic volume and high transfer activity and include State/Lake (Red Line), Jackson/State (Red Line), and Washington/Wells (Loop Elevated). External digital displays will be installed at street level and CTA has installed one pilot location of these digital urban panels at Grand on the Blue Line. FY2012 funding will provide for the design, fabrication, and installation of up to 60 transit information panels and transit information pylons at up to 46 stations, preferably within 1/2 mile of Metra and/or Pace service, on the rail system (Blue, Purple, Red, Orange, Green, and Pink Lines). Also, the installation of up to 80 Digital Customer Information Displays at 12 stations throughout the CTA system. Installation will focus on stations with high volumes of traffic and high transfer activity, including Lake/State (Red), Jackson (Red), and Washington/Wells (Loop Elevated).

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.

The scope includes the purchase and installation of real time next bus signs for bus shelters and transit centers in Pace's service area. The 2014 technical revision to the scope added the purchase of Trapeze licenses which will connect the data portion to the sign software. These signs would display the existing WebWatch information for those customers who are waiting at bus stops and do not have access to the internet on their mobile phones.

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.