Project Management Oversight (PMO) Capital Projects

This is a design build project that is currently in the design phase. The design is divided into 5 segments. The contractor is working on the development of the geotechnical plans and packages for all segments. Segments 1,2,3, and 130th street are having comments from CTA addressed in the intermediate stage. Segments 4 and 5 are continuing with the field drilling and analysis. The Guideways of Segment 5 is in the concept design phase, while Segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 have moved on the intermediate design phase. Guideway Segment 4 is with UPRR for review. All 4 of the station concept designs are with CTA for review, with expected comments returned by June 2025. The 130th bridge design continues, including coordination with IDOT as it is to be built to their standards. The stormwater management report concept was submitted to the CTA for review, and the Civil Utility Plans are in the intermediate design stage. The Yard and Shop design has reached the 60% milest

As of April 2025, all 500 buses from the base order, Option 1, 2, 3, and 4 have been delivered and placed in service. Under Option 5, all 100 buses have been delivered and 78 have been placed in service. Punch list items remain and warranty period is ongoing for production buses with final invoices remaining. This will be the final update on this project.

Formal QA testing is ongoing and is 93% complete. Testing will then move to the “Day in the Life” phase testing to simulate normal operation conditions to test for defects. Next, it will move to pilot testing and then go-live.

Metra put the bid on the street in May 2022 and was awarded to Stadler US, Inc.. The contract consists of eight trainsets for the base order. Preliminary design review activities are expected to begin soon and follow-up with various component and sub-component designs.

The contract was executed, and the vendor originally provided Pace with an updated production schedule due to previous supply chain issues and long lead time items. However, the vendor was bought out by a new company, Phoenix Cars, LLC. Since the change, Phoenix has provided Pace with an updated delivery schedule. Production of the buses will start by July 2025 and delivery to begin in Q4-2025 and last vehicle is expected to be delivered in Q1-2026.

The project management oversight contract was awarded to WSP. WSP and Metra staff are working through the process to support delivery of Metra’s Capital Program. Purchase Order Releases have been approved and work is in progress on various capital projects.

Status conferences continued with CRRC to address/track various items. Production deliveries continued during this reporting period. CTA inspection personnel continue working in China and continue to conduct welded subassembly checks and production car body shell inspections for production cars. There are 69 car body shells in various stages of assembly or being delivered to Chicago. Final assembly is ongoing on 33 cars in the US with 24 cars are currently in final inspection at Skokie Shops. CTA has accepted 180 cars for revenue service out of 204 delivered.

Metra awarded the consultant contract for station concept design. The concept design is at 15% completion and on hold pending completion of lakefront ordinance protection, NEPA, and environmental processes. Documents are being prepared to be submitted to lakefront ordinance for approval. Environmental and NEPA work is ongoing. There was a solicitation for a new LIQ blanket for design services to get the design from 10% to 30% and then a separate solicitation from 30% to 100%. The design is expected to be completed in Q1-2027.

The construction and software installation on the first 14 crossings has been completed. The software consultant is finalizing the configuration of the communication with the back office. Metra was selected to receive an FRA Rail Crossing Elimination grant that will fund the installation of additional 36 smart gate crossings with a PAYGO funding local match.

Pace has entered into a contract for Architectural and Engineering services for pre-design and design services. The contractor completed the pre-design activities, and final pre-design report was submitted to Pace. The adjacent property acquisition has been completed. Pace has completed a Change Order to the design contract to include additional scope for the electrification component. The design activities with the additional scope for electrification are ongoing. The final 30% design is scheduled to be submitted to Pace at the end of May 2025.