CTA selects Jacobs joint venture for Transit Modernization Program

Dallas — Jacobs, with joint venture partners Arcadis and Ardmore-Roderick, was awarded a six-year contract by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for professional owner’s representative services for the Red and Purple Modernization Program (RPM) Phase One project. Phase One of RPM is the largest capital improvement project in CTA’s history. The entire RPM program, expected to be completed over multiple phases, will provide much needed capacity in this growing residential corridor to accommodate current and future riders, and to deliver faster and smoother rides with less crowding and more frequent service.

Jacobs will provide program and construction management services in support of the CTA for the RPM Phase One Design-Build. This support includes providing design and construction management, field support and project controls services, safety and security certification oversight, quality assurance, and construction closeout services. CTA estimates the project value at $2.1 billion and major project construction is expected to begin in the second half of 2019.

“This project will significantly improve transit service and support economic development initiatives in communities served by Chicago’s busiest ‘L’ line,” said Jacobs Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities COO and President Bob Pragada. “With 75 million rides taken on the Red Line each year, Jacobs and our partners will help CTA modernize for the future to meet ridership demands.”

RPM Phase One will completely rebuild the Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn and Bryn Mawr stations and replace all trackwork and elevated supported structures adjacent to the stations. The project will also create the Red-Purple Bypass north of Belmont station and replace the century-old Clark Junction. The new bypass will allow the northbound Brown Line trains to cross up and over the Red and Purple line tracks, eliminating a major bottleneck in CTA’s rail infrastructure, improving travel times for commuters through faster and smoother rides with less crowding and more frequent service.

The multi-stage project will completely rebuild the Red Line from Belmont to Howard and the Purple Line from Belmont to Linden in Wilmette.