CTA to repackage, rebid Brown Line construction

Railway Track and Structures, July, 2004

The Chicago Transit Board voted to repackage and rebid construction work for the CTA's Brown Line Capacity Expansion project. The project includes the rehabilitation of 18 stations to allow berthing of eight-car trains and making the line ADA accessible. In addition, the project will enhance the Brown Line's power distribution system, signal and communication system and improve operational flexibility at key locations.

The Brown Line project was previously advertised and bids for the construction portion were opened on May 5, 2004. Two responses were submitted and both amounts exceeded CTA's construction budget. The CTA has previously reported publicly that its total project budget, including items such as insurance, design, engineering and property acquisition, as well as construction, is $530 million. The bids the CTA received for the construction portion of the project were for $420.5 million and $541.2 million.

CTA President Frank Kruesi said the details were still being worked out, but that he expected separate bids would be sent out for electrical substation work, signal work, including Clark Junction (where the Brown Line, Red Line and Purple Line Express merge) and also for stations.

Kruesi said the re-advertisement would not affect the project deadline, as the repackaging would allow for flexibility in the way work is scheduled. The project's Full Funding Grant Agreement with the federal government requires that the CTA complete the project by the end of 2009. Kruesi stated that there is a 2008 deadline for accessibility work planned for the Fullerton Station.