Metra taps federal grant to help with PTC installation

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Metra

Metra is hoping a federal grant will help pay for installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety system on its Milwaukee North and West lines.

The agency, which provides passenger rail service in the Chicago area, has applied for a federal grant under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The FAST Act authorizes $199 million in fiscal year 2017 to assist railroads in financing the installation of PTC. Under this program, projects receiving grants will have up to 80 percent of costs covered and require a 20 percent local funding match.

Metra‘s PTC program on the Milwaukee North and West lines is estimated to cos$25.2 million. The agency requested $20.2 million in grant funding and has identified $5 million in local matching funds for the project. Once up and running, PTC is expected to add $15 million to $20 million annually to Metra’s operating costs.

“The costs of carrying out the PTC mandate are tremendous, especially given Metra’s financial constraints,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “Grant programs, like this one, are essential funding sources to help meet our goal to fully implement PTC on Metra-controlled lines by 2019 or sooner.”

With the grant funding, Metra plans to help fund installation of PTC on its Milwaukee West Line to Elgin and North line to Fox Lake. Metra explains there are three independent components that need to be addressed before PTC can be made operable along these lines and the grant will be used to fund these projects.

Under the grant application submitted by Metra, all three projects would be completed by fall 2018. They are:

  • Upgrading the existing antiquated signaling system on the 17.5-mile Fox Lake subdivision (Rondout to Fox Lake) on the Milwaukee North Line to one that is compatible with PTC. Project cost: $12.5 million.
  • Reconfiguring and upgrading signals at the Rondout Interlocking between the Libertyville and Lake Forest stations on the Milwaukee North so that they are compatible with PTC. Project cost: $7.5 million.
  • Installing wayside PTC signals on both the Milwaukee West and North lines. Project cost: $5.2 million.

Metra has spent about $95 million and has $208 million under contract toward PTC installation. The agency is counting on additional state and federal funds to provide the remaining funding needed to complete this project.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, Metra has fully acquired the spectrum needed to implement PTC, has installed 16 percent of the needed radio towers and is scheduled to reach full implementation by 2020.

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