Project Management Oversight (PMO) Capital Projects

The RTA is responsible for ensuring that the Service Boards are spending capital funds and managing their capital projects effectively and efficiently.  The RTA conducts periodic project reviews with Service Board project managers to ensure that capital projects are being implemented according to scope, on schedule, within budget and according to established project management guidelines.

Each project listed below is being actively monitored by RTA’s PMO team. Reporting data is provided that includes, Project Start Date, Project End Date, Budget Status, Schedule Status and Current Activities. These projects are also part of the overall Regional Capital Program which can be viewed separately here.

PMO also produces semi-annual reports that cover all projects that are being monitored. These reports can be found on the Project Management Oversight site.  The latest report is the June 2023 Project Management Oversight report

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This search filters based on details within the PMO Project. The search box below allows users to search by PMO Project name.

Agency Project Title Asset Category Mode 2025 Funding 2025-2029 Funding Status
+ CTA Replace Buses - Options to Purchase Up To 500 of 1,030 Rolling Stock Bus $73,514,103 $74,570,219 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
The scope of this project will provide for the engineering, purchase, and inspection of fully accessible, air conditioned Clean Diesel buses; including a spare parts inventory. Engineering includes: development of specifications, pre-bid engineering meetings, onsite inspections of prospective bidders and/or their vendors’ plants, inspection of buses during production and acceptance of vehicles after delivery. 5 Year funds will continue funding stream for the Option(s) to replace up to 500 additional buses. Option(s) to the Base (100) contract order consist of up to an additional 500 buses that will initiate multiple orders to replace the 1000 Series New Flyer buses that have been in service since FY 2006.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $49,827,508 $1,056,116 $50,883,624
State $0 $23,686,595 $0 $23,686,595
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $325,779,736 $73,514,103 $1,056,116 $400,349,955

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$449,623,251
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
As of July 2024, all 300 buses from the base order, Option 1 and Option 2 have been delivered and placed in service. Under Option 3, 90 buses have been delivered. CTA has also exercised Option 4 and 5 for an additional 200 buses. Option 4 has 80 buses built and ready for delivery with the final delivery in March 2025. Option 5 is the final option of this project.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ CTA Purchase Rail Cars - 7000 Series (Base Order 400) Rolling Stock Rail $30,334,196 $30,334,196 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Purchase Rail Cars - 7000' Series (Base Order 400) - Program funds will provide for the continued cash needs and obligation provisions as identified in the contract documents for the 7000' series rail car Base contract order of 400 cars.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $15,334,196 $0 $15,334,196
State $0 $0 $0 $0
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $15,000,000 $0 $15,000,000
Total $230,871,720 $30,334,196 $0 $261,205,916

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$713,703,634
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
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 approximately 90 car body shells in various states of assembly or being delivered to Chicago. Final assembly continues on 36 cars in the US and final inspections on 12 cars were underway at the Skokie Shops. CTA has accepted 88 of the cars thus far for revenue service.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra Zero-Emissions Trainsets Rolling Stock Rail $29,024,137 $205,900,000 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Metra's investment in innovative, cleaner energy locomotives will be funded in part by this project which will procure multiple-unit railcar trainsets that produce zero mobile emissions. This multi-year, multi-phase project will acquire battery-electric trainsets. Metra seeks to be among the first passenger rail transit agencies to purchase and operate self-propelled trainsets that will not require the construction and maintenance of wayside power. Metra estimates that replacing one old diesel locomotive with a zero-emission locomotive will reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by more than 30 tons per year. This project will significantly reduce emissions, improve local air quality, greatly reduce operational costs, and lower maintenance costs.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $29,024,137 $156,435,863 $185,460,000
State $0 $0 $16,312,000 $16,312,000
RTA $0 $0 $4,128,000 $4,128,000
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $40,330,000 $29,024,137 $176,875,863 $246,230,000

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$15,000,000
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
Metra put the bid on the street in May 2022 and Metra continues to work on the procurement activities for this project.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra Program Management Contingencies and Administration Rail $28,200,000 $90,409,517 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
This project will fund the professional services necessary to deliver capital projects. Project activities may include but are not limited to funding studies, concept design, developing new business tools and processes, professional services under the Project Management Oversight (PMO) contract, and the procurement of software. Historic levels of capital funding necessitate additional program management capacity.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $28,200,000 $62,209,517 $90,409,517
State $0 $0 $0 $0
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $104,828,295 $28,200,000 $62,209,517 $195,237,812

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$122,934,062
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
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. The project budget increased from newly Pre-Awarded 2024 FTA funds.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Pace River Division Electrification/Expansion Support Facilities & Equipment Bus $20,250,000 $82,040,000 Behind Schedule

Project Details

Description
Renovation of River Division located in Elgin, more than doubling the garage’s current capacity, including office space and installation of charging capabilities for electric buses.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $0 $0 $0
State $0 $20,250,000 $61,790,000 $82,040,000
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $37,901,526 $20,250,000 $61,790,000 $119,941,526

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$112,109,933
On Budget
Behind Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
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 have restarted in April and continued this reporting period. The 30% design is expected to be completed by Spring time in 2025.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra Ties & Ballast UPR Track & Structure Rail $12,000,000 $13,000,000 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Metra’s Union Pacific North (UP-N) Line will undergo significant rehabilitation in 2022. Union Pacific Railroad’s crews will replace ties, clean or replace ballast, and replace switch components on the northern extents of the UP-N Line. This project improves the riding quality of the trains and reduces the incidence of slow orders, which can impact the ability to maintain on-time performance. Metra provides funds to improve the track along the UP-N Line and other lines and yard facilities owned by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $12,000,000 $1,000,000 $13,000,000
State $0 $0 $0 $0
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $18,487,855 $12,000,000 $1,000,000 $31,487,855

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$12,593,011
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
Metra coordinated efforts with UP Forces for work on the Kenosha Sub track 1 & 2 related to replacing and cleaning ties, replacement of ballast, as well as switch components from Mile Post (MP) 8.5 to MP 52.1. This work is 40% complete. Work continues and additional locations were added to the project. Kenosha ties work to follow Harvard MP .75 to MP 62. Union Pacific forces continue working and are 50% complete.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ CTA Replace video system 3200 and 5000-Series railcars Rolling Stock Rail $10,050,000 $10,150,000 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Replace the existing video system on the 5000-series rail cars which is obsolete and no longer supported by the vendor. Replace existing video system on the 3200-series rail cars with a more reliable system. Useable components removed from the 3200s will be re-used to support the same system on the 2600-seriese rail cars.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $10,050,000 $100,000 $10,150,000
State $0 $0 $0 $0
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $15,150,000 $10,050,000 $100,000 $25,300,000

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$25,100,000
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
CTA finalized the procurement process and the contract was awarded to Railhead Corporation. CTA is working with the contractor to begin specification development.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra Bridge 86 - 78th St Entrance Track & Structure Rail $7,200,000 $32,635,000 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Engineering Design, construction, and related services for the replacement of Bridge 86 on the Rock Island (RI) Line will be funded by this project. Bridge 86 dates back to 1916 and spans 78th Street at milepost 8.62 in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood of Chicago. Contemporary construction methods will allow two-track service to be maintained during the bridge replacement. The replacement abutment wall at the south end of the bridge will include ground-floor space for a leasable storefront, a new staircase, and an elevator. The elevator and stairs will provide an accessible pathway from 79th Street to the new Auburn Park station boarding platforms and headhouse. This project is a necessary component of the new Auburn Park station project.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $0 $0 $0
State $0 $7,200,000 $25,435,000 $32,635,000
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $14,980,366 $7,200,000 $25,435,000 $47,615,366

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$14,980,365
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
The design for the bridge and entrance continued to 90% completion. The Task Order amendment for 90% design is in progress.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra CREATE EW-2 Bridge Lift Track & Structure Rail $4,600,000 $4,600,000 Behind Schedule

Project Details

Description
This project involves lifting a bridge between 78th Street and 79th Street on Metra’s Rock Island Line. The bridge spans over three sets of railroad tracks owned by The Belt Railway of Chicago and Norfolk Southern in Chicago at milepost 8.7. This project is a necessary component of the new Auburn Park station project.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $0 $0 $0
State $0 $4,600,000 $0 $4,600,000
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $12,000,000 $4,600,000 $0 $16,600,000

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$8,404,189
On Budget
Behind Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
The design for the project has been completed. Metra advertised the construction procurement and received only one bid. The proposed cost exceeded the allocated construction budget for the project. Metra made a decision to re-design the project to reduce the risk off of the potential contractor and attract more bids. A change order has been issued to the designer and the re-design was completed. The IFB set is under review by IDOT and FHWA.

Last Updated 12.19.2024

+ Metra Locomotive Rehab Units 100-149,215,216 Rolling Stock Rail $4,225,000 $6,225,000 On Schedule

Project Details

Description
Life-extending rebuilds of diesel-electric locomotives used to pull or push commuter cars will be completed under this project. Project activities include but are not limited to overhauling traction motors and traction alternators, rebuilding turbo chargers, overhauling auxiliary generators and head-end power alternators, and other traction power components. Funds will be utilized for third-party contracts, material purchases, change orders and cost variances, force account charges, liens as required by FTA, as well as audit and oversight activities.
Funding Amounts by Source
*Previous funding shows all funding since 2020, but not with detail by funding source. Note that the project may have funding from capital programs previous to 2020 that is not shown in table.
Source Previous Funding* 2025 Funding 2026-2029 Funding Total
Federal $0 $4,225,000 $2,000,000 $6,225,000
State $0 $0 $0 $0
RTA $0 $0 $0 $0
Service Board / Local $0 $0 $0 $0
Total $28,060,000 $4,225,000 $2,000,000 $34,285,000

PMO:

Total Project Budget^ Budget Status Schedule Status Start Date End Date
$28,598,333
On Budget
On Schedule

^Total Project Budget is the project budget being tracked by the RTA PMO Group

Current Status
During this reporting period, Locomotive 132 was completed and placed in service. Locomotive 120 had the engine and related rotating equipment installed and began main line testing and validation. Locomotive 139 was decommissioned and stripping of the cores has begun, as well as prepping the locomotive for the installation of the rebuilt engine. Of the projects eighteen (18) Locomotives being rebuilt, Metra has completed and returned to service seven (8) Locomotives to date and are currently working on two (3) locomotives.

Last Updated 12.19.2024