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

Chicago Transit Authority is accelerating work on its Brown Line expansion project in order to eliminate three-track operation between Belmont (above) and Fullerton six months ahead of schedule. Purple Line Express trains have been limited to one southbound track at Belmont and Fullerton since March 30, while the platforms are being rebuilt and tracks reconfigured to allow room for the installation of elevators at both stations. Although the acceleration will cost $1.6 million, it will be offset by projected ridership gains valued at $1 million and by operational savings of $800,000. In addition, CTA will add escalators to the Belmont and Fullerton stations. Also, crews began work in May to replace the signal and train control systems and replace deteriorated rail ties and track in an effort to prevent slow zones along the Loop elevated tracks. The new system will replace the current system that has been in operation for more than three decades. In addition, approximately 10,000 feet of track will be renewed, along with the replacement of rail ties that will eliminate nearly 600 feet of existing slow zones and help to prevent future slow zones. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2009. CREATE partners break ground for project Public and private sector partners involved in the CREATE Program (Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program) broke ground on a $4.2-million railroad modernization project that will upgrade the signal system and help mitigate conflicting use of tracks among freight trains, Metra commuter trains and Amtrak intercity passenger trains along the Indiana Harbor Belt Corridor from Bedford Park, Ill., to Summit, Ill. The project, which will include the installation of microprocessors and new signals, will take five months to complete. It will be immediately followed by an $11.2million modernization project in McCook, Ill., on the IHB that will improve freight train efficiency and increase train speeds to 40 mph. This project will increase the volume of trains that can be handled in the area that runs west of Harlem Avenue and north of 71st Street to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from 76 to 88 freight trains per day. Metra, Amtrak and their riders will benefit from the project because it will reduce cross traffic interference, which often causes delays. CSXT signal crews, with administrative oversight by IDOT, will do the work in the project getting under way, which is 80 percent funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and 20 percent by the railroads. www.rtands.com Railway Track & Structures June 2008 9 http://www.wch.com http://www.wch.com http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - June 2008 Contents On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Grade Crossings Provide Interface Between Railroads, Public Grade-Crossing Equipment & Materials Guide Fastener Suppliers Getting a Grip Grinding Plays Part in Rail Maintenance Big Picture Products and Literature People Calendar Sales Representatives Website Directory Advertisers Index Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective

Railway Track & Structures - June 2008

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