Current Capital Initiatives Program 2011
In 2010, Metra made great strides in working with the funding available to maintain the high quality of service passengers have come to know and expect. Additionally, Metra has been working continuously to find ways to improve the system and maintain a state of good repair.
The 2011 core capital program (Table 15, page 44) is funded through federal fixed guideway and federal formula funds, as well as Metra farebox capital funds. The supplemental capital program includes congressional initiatives, homeland security funding, federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding and State of Illinois capital bond program funds.
Without new sources of funding for capital in 2011, Metra riders will see a depletion of service quality and on-time performance. Rail cars will be rehabbed less frequently, station renewal projects will be delayed and equipment failures and train overcrowding will become more frequent because there is a lack of funding for car overhauls and new equipment purchases.
The 2011–2015 Metra capital program included in this document (Table 16, page 45) shows funding available from current resources, including the State of Illinois capital bond program funded through 2014.
Rolling Stock
For Metra to maintain a state of good repair, rail cars must undergo rehabilitation every 15 years, meaning that 50 rail cars per year must go through our rehab program. Without a state capital program, Metra has been able to rehab only 23 cars per year since 2005, resulting in an 18- to 19-year rehabilitation cycle. Our locomotives must be rehabbed every 10 years to maintain good repair. Currently, that cycle has been extended from 10 to 12 years.
ARRA-funded improvements to Metra’s rolling stock fleet included the remanufacture of locomotives for $71 million and federally mandated air conditioning conversion of commuter cars for $1.3 million. Both of these projects extend the life of our fleet and will meet new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission regulations.
Remanufacturing locomotives provides a significant cost savings for Metra while extending the life of this equipment by an estimated 25 years. The cost of remanufacturing a locomotive is $1.7 million versus $4 million for a new locomotive. Rehabilitation of rail cars also represents a significant cost savings for Metra, while extending the life of the equipment and improving service for our riders. Rail car rehabilitation costs Metra $800,000 per car versus $2.5 million for a new gallery car.
Through the 2010 State of Illinois bond program, Metra has initiated the replacement of Highliner cars used on the Metra Electric District. $585 million has been programmed through the bond program for the purchase of 160 Highliner cars. Our five-year capital program calls for such additional rolling stock projects as locomotive improvements at $66.9 million, the rehabilitation of commuter cars at $191.2 million, fleet component overhaul at $14.4 million and new bi-level cars at $20.7 million.
Track and Structure
Track and structure is the foundation of the Metra system. Without the continual renewal of track components, retaining walls and bridges, Metra’s reliable on-time service would evaporate and the wear and tear on our rail cars an locomotives would increase. Since Metra was formed, we have spent $994.2 million on track and structural replacement.
ARRA-funded improvements include $40.1 million toward the reconstruction of 22 bridges on the Union Pacific North line and $3.5 million toward several Metra Electric District bridges.
To maintain a state of good repair, Metra has established a continual cycle of inspection and renewal for its track and structures. We currently replace 80,000 ties and 45 rail crossings per year. Ballast and track resurfacing is performed on a 4-year cycle, and since 1980, 83 bridges on the Metra system have been replaced.
Track and structure project highlights in the 2011-2015 capital program include nearly $239.5 million for bridge replacement and retaining wall rehabilitation, with $161.5 million provided through the State of Illinois bond program. Nearly $55.9 million is programmed for the replacement of ties and ballast, $13 million for railroad crossing replacement, nearly $29.3 million for rail replacement and $11.8 million for structural upgrades.
Signal, Electrical and Communications
Signals and communications systems are vital to safe railroad operations. Since Metra’s formation, we have invested $518.9 million to upgrade our signal systems. These signal systems are aging and replacement parts are limited in availability.
ARRA-funded improvements include fiber optic installation and road crossing upgrades along the BNSF Railway in the amount of $7 million.
The Metra system has 574 at-grade crossings, of which 148 are interconnected with traffic signals. Maintaining and upgrading crossing signal systems is also critical for safety. The 2011–2015 program includes $197.9 million for signal improvements.
The 2011–2015 program also includes $21.6 million to upgrade interlockings, which will improve operational efficiency and enable increased capacity on our system; nearly $37 million in electrical systems improvements; $6 million in communications improvements; and $102 million for the further installation of communications based Positive Train Control (PTC) on our rail lines. PTC is a federally mandated signal system that will provide an added level of safety for our train crews and passengers; $100 million is programmed in the State of Illinois bond program toward this directive.
Facilities & Equipment
Metra has 18 rail yards and seven maintenance facilities. When Metra took over commuter rail operations in Northeastern Illinois in 1984, most of these facilities were out of date and inefficient. To date, $461.6 million has been spent to modernize our rail yards and shops.
The majority of these capital expenditures occurred more than a decade ago, and now additional capital investments must be made. Equipment and vehicles have reached the end of their useful life and must be replaced. Upgrades and expansions are also necessary to accommodate future system expansion. The five-year program includes $159.3 million for Metra’s support facilities and equipment. These projects can have an immediate impact on Metra’s operating budget since operating costs increase when equipment doesn’t run at optimum efficiency.
The State of Illinois bond program will provide nearly $101.4 million in resources for yard improvements along our system through 2014.
