The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Board awarded a $42.9 million contract to Clark Construction Group to upgrade three substations that provide power to all eight CTA rail lines. The East Lake, Milwaukee and Illinois substations, which date back as far as 1910, will receive improvements to the traction power equipment that helps move trains across the system.
The upgrades are critical because substations convert electric power to the appropriate voltage, type and frequency so that it can supply traction to CTA’s railways. CTA has 64 substations throughout its system and works to ensure the substations are maintained to keep trains running properly.
“This investment will improve service reliability for rail customers by upgrading three substations that are decades old,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter. “These investments in aging infrastructure are critical to our goal of a 21st century transit system."
The investment, which is funded by Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Bonds, is expected to be completed in spring 2020.