This section includes news about projects that are being funded with federal dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), better known as the federal stimulus bill. Metra received $140.9 million as its share of the stimulus money. The money is being used to remanufacture locomotives, replace and renovate railroad bridges, renovate stations and carry out other infrastructure work. For more details, read below.
Stimulus Dollars Used for Joliet Union Station Platforms
CHICAGO (Nov. 2, 2009) — Dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to replace the platforms at the Joliet Union Station.
John Burns Construction Company of Orland Park, Illinois, submitted the lowest responsive bid to supply materials for the work. They will also perform some limited construction work, but Metra workers will do the bulk of the job.
The project at Joliet on Metra’s Heritage Corridor line includes the replacement of deteriorated tactile surfaces and other work. The contract, valued at $564,000, will result in 12 direct jobs and 63 indirect jobs during construction. In addition, the project will employ seven Metra workers.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the remanufacture of locomotives, bridge replacements as well as station additions and renovations.
Stimulus Dollars Used for Lockport Station Platforms
CHICAGO (Nov. 2, 2009) — Dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to replace and extend the platforms at the Lockport Station.
Northwest General Contractors Inc. of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, submitted the lowest responsive bid to supply materials for the work. They will also perform some limited construction work, but Metra workers will do the bulk of the job.
The project at Lockport on Metra’s Heritage Corridor line includes the replacement of deteriorated tactile surfaces and expanding the platforms to accommodate longer trains. The contract, valued at $581,312, will result in nine direct jobs and 45 indirect jobs during construction. In addition, the project will employ seven Metra workers.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the remanufacture of locomotives, bridge replacements as well as station additions and renovations.
Stimulus Dollars Used to Rebuild Winnetka Metra Station
CHICAGO (Sept. 28, 2009) — Metra officials joined with Winnetka President Jessica Tucker and other local officials on Monday to break ground on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Winnetka train station on the Union Pacific North line.
The nearly $5 million project includes restoring the street-level depot, the pedestrian bridge and six stairways, installing new elevators and vestibules, and replacing the platforms and platform shelters. New landscaping also will be included in the project, which is expected to take about a year to complete.
The project is one of several that Metra is funding with its share of money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, better known as the federal stimulus bill. The project is expected to create or retain about 40 jobs. Blinderman Construction Co. of Chicago was awarded the contract for the work.
“North Shore residents, especially the more than 600 riders who use this station every day, will witness firsthand how we are putting that money to work to create jobs, stimulate the local economy and improve the safety and comfort of our passengers,” Metra Chairman Carole R. Doris said. “This is just the type of project that the stimulus money was meant for.”
Metra Director William A. Widmer of Evanston said the renovated station should prove comfortable, attractive and functional for Metra riders and area residents. “We hope it will further cement the great partnership we have with Winnetka,” he said. “And we hope it will serve our customers and the community well into future.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects being funded with these dollars include the rehabilitation of locomotives, bridge replacements, station renovations and parking expansions.
Stimulus Dollars Used for Fiber Optics Contract
CHICAGO (June 17, 2009) — Metra has approved the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad’s contract award for components of a fiber optics network along its commuter line between Chicago and Aurora, Ill. The $1,444,166 contract with Midway, Arkansas-based Fiber-Tel will provide the telecommunications component of the fiber-optic network. The network will support voice and data needs and future wireless systems. The project will provide work for 28 contractor and subcontractor employees, including nine new jobs. The BNSF will also hire an additional four signal employees to support the installation.
This project component will be funded with dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other federal funding provided through the Federal Transit Administration’s Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program is being used for fiber optics cable installations at key locations along the route to support the BNSF’s signal system.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the remanufacture of locomotives, rehabilitation of rail cars, bridge replacements as well as station additions, renovations and parking expansions.
Stimulus Dollars Used to Remanufacture Locomotives
CHICAGO (June 17, 2009) — Dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to remanufacture 40 Metra locomotives. Metra has exercised an option on its existing contract with Progress Rail in Mayfield, Ky., for an additional $68.6 million to remanufacture 40 F40PH locomotives. The project will retain 62 employees at the Kentucky facility. The project is expected to last through November 2012.
The F40PH locomotives were built and delivered between 1977 and 1980. Remanufacturing the locomotives involves replacing major components, including corroded cabs, on each locomotive and will extend the working life of the engines by 20 to 25 years. Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the rehabilitation of rail cars, bridge replacements as well as station additions, renovations and parking expansions.
Stimulus Dollars Used for Rail Car Rehabs
CHICAGO (June 17, 2009) — Dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to replace air conditioning units on 41 Metra rail cars.
Pennsylvania-based Westcode Inc. has been awarded a contract valued at $1,057,636 to provide air conditioning for 41 Metra cars. The new air conditioning units will make use of a more environmentally friendly refrigerant and are a component of the overall rehabilitation of a portion of the Metra fleet. These particular cars were built in 1974 and last rehabilitated in the 1980s. The units will be manufactured at Westcode’s Galesburg, Ill., facility and will provide jobs for 12 Westcode employees.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the remanufacture of locomotives, bridge replacements as well as station additions, renovations and parking expansions.
Stimulus Dollars Used for Parking Lot Projects
CHICAGO (July 14, 2009) — Dollars made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be used to expand parking at two Metra stations. Chicagoland Paving Contractors Inc. of Lake Zurich, Ill., submitted the lowest responsive bids for two projects to expand parking at the Pingree Road and Elburn stations.
The project at Pingree Road Station on Metra’s Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) in Crystal Lake, Ill., includes the construction of 330 parking spaces, four electronic payment boxes and re-striping of the existing lot. The contract, valued at $574,900, will provide 9 full-time jobs during its construction and is slated for completion by year’s end.
The project at the Elburn Station on the Union Pacific West Line (UP-W) includes the construction of 329 parking spaces, expanding the existing lot to the west. The contract, valued at $1,130,011.50, also includes eight electronic payment boxes. The cost of the payment boxes ($99,900) will be paid for by the Village of Elburn. The construction project will provide 15 full-time jobs.
Metra is receiving $140.9 million as its share of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Other Metra projects that will be funded with these dollars include the remanufacture of locomotives, bridge replacements as well as station additions and renovations.
