The region’s transit investment priority is maintaining the current infrastructure in a state of good repair and providing current service. Significant capital investment is necessary to keep northeastern Illinois’s transit system in a state of good repair in order to provide a convenient, affordable, reliable, and safe public transit service. In addition, the region’s transit agencies face a growing operating shortfall in excess of $200 million in 2007 to provide current transit services. This shortfall is attributable to rising costs for fuel and power, security, health care, insurance claims, and ADA paratransit services that have been rising faster than inflation.

Rolling Stock

• Replacement fixed-route buses
• Replacement vanpool vehicles
• Replacement rail cars
• Replacement locomotives
• Perform vehicle overhauls/rehabilitations
  

Examples:

• New Metra Electric District Highliner cars with bathrooms
• Mid-life overhauls of the CTA 3200 Series rapid transit cars
• New Pace and CTA replacement fixed-route buses

Track & Structure

• Replace rails, ties & ballast
• Rehabilitate embankments/retaining walls
• Rehabilitate and renew bridges/structures/ foundations
  

Examples

• Structural rehabilitation for CTA North Mainline (Red Line) rapid transit
• Rebuild Metra UP-North Line bridges
  

Electrical, Signals and Communications

• Replace/upgrade rail car power distribution
• Upgrade rail system train control and signal systems
• Upgrade rail grade crossing signals
• Replace/upgrade radio and communication systems
• Upgrade fiber optics and cables
• Upgrade operations centers
• Upgrade passenger information
  

Examples:

• Pace Systemwide Radio System replacement
• Upgrade Metra Grade Crossing Protection and Signals
• Upgrade CTA Green Line (south) rapid transit signals
  

Support Facilities & Equipment

• Renew/replace bus garages
• Renew/replace rail yards and shops
• Replace/upgrade fare collection system
• Upgrade fueling facilities
• Reconstruct bus turnarounds and terminals
  

Examples:

• Replace CTA 77th, Archer and Forest Glen bus garages
• Renew Pace bus garages
• Rebuild/ construct new commuter rail yards: Metra Rock Island District 47th Street, Metra Electric
• District, and Union Pacific California Avenue
  

Passenger Facilities

• Reconstruct/upgrade rail stations/transit centers
• Replace passenger shelters
• Additional station/transit center parking
• Upgrade bus stops/pedestrian access
• Replace station elevators/escalators
  

Examples:

• Metra, Pace, and CTA parking expansion
• Reconstruct CTA and Metra stations
  

Support Activities

• Homeland security
• Capital project security
• Engineering
• Program management
  

Examples:

• CTA, Metra, Pace security cameras