CHICAGO — With spring having arrived, at least according to the calendar, commuter operator Metra on Wednesday outlined plans for capital projects planned for the 2024 construction season.
The Metra budget calls for $332.4 million in projects this fiscal year, including $140.7 million for bridge projects; $81.6 million for station and parking improvements; $66.2 million for signal, electrical, and communications maintenance and upgrades; $22 million for track maintenance, and $6.4 million for grade crossing replacements. Some of the funding was allocated in prior years or came from sources including Metra-served communities or freight railroads. Some 35 stations are scheduled for work this year.
“We plan to take full advantage of the construction season to address projects big and small across the railroad,” Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski said in a press release. “Thanks to our leaders in Washington and Springfield, Metra has received significant financial support in recent years to help us begin to address a backlog of critical capital projects that will benefit our riders for years to come.”
A list of the projects, detailed to the level of listing each of the 39 grade or pedestrian crossings set for replacement, is available for download as part of the release linked above. Notable highlights include:
Track projects
— Rock Island District: Preparation for a third main track, including diamond replacement, at the 16th Street Interlocking.
— Milwaukee West: Almora/Rockford connection, creating a link to the Union Pacific’s Belvidere Subdivision in preparation for service to Rockford, Ill.
—Electric District: Improvements in preparation for addition of a fourth track to accommodate expansion of South Shore Line service between Kensington and Millennium Station.
Station projects
— Electric District: Rebuild and ADA accessibility projects at 79th, 87th, 95th, 103rd, 147th/Sibley, and Homewood.
— UP North: Completion of new Peterson Ridge station, scheduled to open in May.
— BNSF: LaGrange Road depot rehab.
Signal projects
— Rock Island District: Installation of new equipment to replace the 123-year-old 16th Street Tower; replacement of hand-throw with electric-lock switches at Mokena; EJ&E crossing, Joliet; 191st Street, Tinley Park; and Oak Forest.
— Southwest Service: Replacement of hand-throw with electric-lock switches at Palos Heights.
Bridge projects
— UP North: Replacement of 11 bridges between Fullerton and Addison.
— Milwaukee West: Replace a timber bridge A-418, Ingleside, with a concrete and steel bridge.
Most work will be performed during off-peak hours or on weekends. Some projects will require construction schedules, which can add 10 to 15 minutes to trip length. When such schedules are needed, they will be posted here and reflected on Metra’s web-based train track.
— Milwaukee West: Almora/Rockford connection, creating a link to the Union Pacific’s Belvidere Subdivision in preparation for service to Rockford, Ill.
Good news, the needed switch at Big Timber is going in.