Railway Track & Structures - May 2008 - (Page 9)

directional signs. To foster a sense of ownership and identity within each station and the surrounding community, the CTA has partnered with the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs to install public art at all 18 stations included in the Brown Line Capacity Expansion project. For Southport, Chicago-based artist Elizabeth Fraiberg created two ceramic tile murals that are located inside the station house and depict layered, abstract photographs of the surrounding neighborhood. Also in Chicago, Regional Transportation Authority planners say about $10 billion is needed for capital projects. The project list includes new CTA track to reduce slow zones at a cost of $689.5 million and improvements to CTA rail stations priced at $901 million. Also included are are huge projects for Metra such as the STAR line that would link suburbs and the extension of the UP Northwest line to Johnsburg. SEPTA opens brand new 46th Street El Station SEPTA Market-Frankford Line El trains returned to 46th Street Station on April 14 as a redesigned and modern transportation facility in West Philadelphia opened for passenger service. El service to 46th Street Station was discontinued in June 2007 to allow rebuilding of the station as part of the Market Street Elevated (MSE) reconstruction project. The new 46th Street Station will offer improved access to trains and greater overall convenience for the 3,700 passengers who use it each weekday. The opening of 46th Street Station marks the debut of the fourth of six new stations designed under MSE. In addition to large roofs covering the platforms, SEPTA passengers will also find waiting areas on each platform offering further convenience. Station architects also incorporated into the design several security features identified as important to the community. These characteristics include the construction of curved and reflective walls that eliminate blind corners, highly visible and brightly lit interior and exterior station areas and a pedestrian underpass to allow safe passenger travel above Market Street between both platforms. The station is fully accessible for those with disabilities and equipped with www.rtands.com elevators and escalators. SEPTA is also planning to install public art at the station as part of its Art-in-Transit program. MSE is a major reconstruction and modernization project of the El that originally began operations in 1907. The project includes a streamlined, singlebeam support structure, six new customer-friendly stations and art inspired architectural features that will improve the overall riding experience for passengers. Also, SEPTA opened a new parking facility at the Norristown Transportation Center located at the corner of Dekalb and Lafayette Streets in April. The new SEPTA NTC parking garage is fully ADA accessible and will include more than 520 parking spaces, an increased parking capacity of up to 40 percent, and will provide the convenience and amenities for customers to use SEPTA public transit as part of their daily commute. The Norristown Transportation Center parking facility project is part of a capital investment program to enhance customer amenities at SEPTA Regional Rail and Transit facilities - throughout the region. UP making improvements on Illinois, Iowa lines Union Pacific is spending $5.4 million this year on track improvements between Coulterville and Collins, Ill. When the project was complete, crews had removed and installed 37,000 ties, spread 17,000 tons of rock ballast and replaced the road surfaces at 62 crossings. Work began on this project April 5 and was completed by the end of April. UP is also investing $3.1 million this year on track improvements between Alton and near Sheldon, Iowa. When the project is complete, crews will have removed and installed 17,700 ties, spread 11,600 tons of rock ballast and replaced the road surfaces at 19 crossings. Work began on these projects April 18 and was scheduled to be completed by mid May. These improvements are part of the $1.6 billion Union Pacific is planning to spend in 2008 to maintain track across its more than 32,300-mile system. Railway Track & Structures May 2008 9 http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - May 2008

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