The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in the US has selected three qualified builders to submit proposals for $2.1bn Red and Purple Modernization Program (RPM), which aims to improve rail services across the city.
The three selected builders are the Walsh Fluor Design-Build Team, Chicago Rail Constructors and the Kiewit Infrastructure Company.
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They are expected to submit development proposals to design and build the first phase of the project in the near future.
RPM Phase One will see the rebuilding of the four oldest Red Line stations (Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr) in order to make them easily accessible for disabled customers.
Approximately 1.3mi of adjacent track structure will also be reconstructed as part of the development.
In addition, the project will also include the construction of a rail bypass to unclog the Red, Purple and Brown Line intersection junction, which will enable CTA to increase the frequency of trains operating on the Red Line and fulfil the growing demand for transit services in the region.
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By GlobalDataCTA president Dorval Carter, Jr said: “We’re pleased to make good progress on getting closer to building this project and fulfilling our promise to improve rail service on the Red Line, our busiest line.
“It is critical that we find the most qualified builders in the industry to construct this project, which is one of the biggest modernisation projects in CTA history.”
CTA will now issue a Draft Request for Proposals (RFP) to the selected builders, inviting them to submit RPM Phase One designing and building proposals.
The proposals will be evaluated in accordance with multiple factors and requirements before awarding the final contract.
Major construction under the project is expected to start in 2019.
A total of 5,700 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.
The entire RPM project will be constructed in multiple phases and is intended to re-construct part of CTA’s century-old Red and Purple lines, which have already covered their original operational lifespan and are currently unable to accommodate the deployment of additional trains into service.
