Metra Union Pacific West Line Project

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Metra Union Pacific West Line Project
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UP West Line2006 New Start Project

• 8.5-mile extension
• 2 new stations

• New coach yard
• Cost 134 million

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UP West Line Proposed New Start Project

• Upgrade signals
• Realign A-2 interlocker
• Build crossovers
• Improve parking
• Enhance platforms

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UP West Line Chicago Critical Gateway

• Importance of the West Line
• Critical to Union Pacific
• 25 UP Carloads
• 70 Traffic Local to Chicago
• Access to UPs major customer facilities
• 5 Coal Plants
• 6 Intermodal Ramps
• 4 Auto Facilities
• 2,500 Small Business Shippers
• Connections to Eastern Roads
• Routes from West Coast Ports
• Coal Route from Wyoming
• Critical to Metra
• 59 Weekday trains
• 30,000 daily riders

Seattle
Portland
Powder River Basin
Twin Cities
Chicago
Omaha
SLC
Kansas City
Denver
Oakland
St. Louis
Memphis
LA
Phoenix
Dallas
El Paso
San Antonio
New Orleans
Houston
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UP - West Line Chicago Metro Complex

• West Line Challenges
• Challenging mix of passenger freight
• Two windows per day
• Daily rail traffic jam backup into and across
  Iowa
• Shared challenges
• Unable to support growth

To Wisconsin
Lake Bluff
UP North Line 65 Metra Trains 8 UP Trains
To Harvard and Janesville
Barrington
UP Northwest Line 65 Metra Trains 4 UP Trains
Arlington Heights
Wilmette
Des Plaines
To Belvidere Chrysler Plant
Evanston
Elk Grove
UP West Line 59 Metra Trains 55 UP Trains
Mayfair
Clybourn
Proviso/ Global II
Elburn Coach Yard
North Ave
West Chicago
Kedzie
Oak Park
Ogilvie Transportation Center
Elmhurst
Geneva
Wheaton
IHB
EJE
Global I
Routes to connecting Roads and other UP lines
Canal St.
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UP West Line Project Background
Steps
Oct 08 3rd Party Station Safety Evaluation
Dec 07 Joint Recommendation Roadmap For
Improvement
May 07 Simulation Results
Phase 1 Performance Improvement Joint
Recommendations 112 Million Multi Year Upgrade
Feb 07 UP/Metra Joint Field Evaluation Identify
Simulation Cases
Benefits

• Increased Performance
• Reduced Congestion
• Fewer Parked Trains
• Fewer Slow Rolling Trains
• Enhanced Public Safety

Dec 06 UP/Metra Agree to Joint Study
Computer Simulation
Sept 06 Metra request For Long Term Plan
Time
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UP West Line Station Improvements

• Platform Diversions
• Channel commuter flow away from tracks
• Direct flows behind pedestrian gates

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UP West Line Station Improvements

• Pedestrian Gates
• On road crossings adjacent to platforms
• Include Escape Areas

Working Prototype
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UP West Line Station Improvements

• Another Train Coming System
• Red Danger illuminates and flashes
  continuously
• White Another Train Coming illuminates
• Audible warning sounds continuously
• All remain active until only one train is
  detected in the area

Working Prototype
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UP West Line Station Improvements

• Inter-track Fencing
• Extensions beyond platform areas
• Address flows from parking areas

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UP West Line Station Improvements
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UP West Line Station Improvements
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UP West Line Station Improvements
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UP West Line Station Improvements
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UP West Line Metra / Union Pacific Railroad
Joint Capital Projects
1984-2009

• Track Structure
• Signal-Electrical-Communications

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UP West Line Proposed Improvements and Benefits
Jointly Funded Phase 1 - 112 Million
Recommendations
Elburn East
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