Chicago, one of the large American cities, has 77 community areas which include over 100 neighbourhoods with an estimated number of inhabitants of 2.7 million. The city is visited by another 40 million people a year. Also, the metropolitan area is formed of three countries with 10 million inhabitants. It is, therefore, evident that the transport services play a crucial part in ensuring mobility and Chicago’s economic growth.
Although in 2015, public transport agencies reported a fall in the number of passengers, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is part of the few agencies that reported a 1.5% increase in the public rail transport segment. The average daily journeys stand at 1.6 million, with 516 million journeys in 2015. Chicago has the second largest transit system in the US, providing rail and bus services in 35 suburbs.
To develop the transport system, CTA proposed a budget of USD 3.5 billion for 2017-2021, thus continuing its investment programme announced in 2011 with over USD 5 billion. Projects include rehabilitation of the existing stations and the construction of new ones, the modernisation of the rolling stock fleet and of the bus fleet, the implementation of the latest technologies to optimise reliability, reduce travel times and increase safety and security.
“CTA’s responsible budget will continue to create a 21st century transit system by focusing on enhancing service to riders while continuing the historic level of investment in modernisation of our transit system. Investing in CTA and its customers creates economic benefits for our City, our neighbourhoods and our residents by connecting people with jobs, education and opportunity,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.
For 2017, the agency will continue the long-term priority projects and will develop network extension projects.
One of the important projects of CTA includes the development of the first phase on the modernisation of the Red and Purple lines which includes the reconstruction of 4 stations (on the Red line) and the construction of the Red-Purple Bypass north of Belmont Station. The two lines form one of the busiest corridors in CTA’s railway network and require the allocation of USD 1.2 billion. In October, the mayor of the city announced the extension plan of the 8.5 km Red Line which would also include the construction of 4 stations and bus transport facilities. This project is estimated at USD 2.3 billion. Next year, the authorities will announce the route of the extension.
Another important project is the acquisition of 846 metro cars. To that end, CSR Sifang America JV signed the rolling stock supply contract, the manufacturer presenting a USD 1.309 billion offer. The prototype of the cars will be finalised in 2019. After completing the tests, the rolling stock will be commissioned in 2020. Initially, CTA will procure 400 cars and the remainder wil be ordered in the next period.
“The Strategic Accessibility Program” is a new initiative launched by the CTA that will establish a blueprint for making the second largest transit agency 100 percent accessible over the next 20 years. This is a comprehensive plan that will outline both short-term and long-term initiatives to make the CTA’s rail system fully ADA accessible over the next 20 years and plans to either repair and/or replace existing rail system elevators.
by Pamela Luica
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