Metra – the rail system serving the Chicago area – has finalized its construction plan for 2026, dedicating $575.3 million to enhance public transit infrastructure and other related capital projects. The plan covers the first section of its five-year $2.3 billion Capital Program.
The 2026 Capital Program features 122 projects spread across six categories. These categories include:
- Rolling Stock – $268.2 million.
- Support Activities – $92.3 million.
- Bridges, Track and Structure: $68.5 million.
- Stations and Parking – $59.9 million.
- Signal, Electrical and Communications – $59.1 million.
- Facilities and equipment – $27.3 million.
Rolling Stock projects will prioritize the implementation of railcar rehabilitation programs and modernize the authority’s fleet. This will include buying state-of-the-art vehicles and replacing antiquated vehicles. Various Support Activities needed to sustain operations include staffing, auditing, oversight administration costs, business tool and process development, professional services and other related investments.
The $68.5 million allotted to Bridges, Track and Structure will enable Metra to maintain 926 bridges and 1,055 miles of track. The Capital Plan supports the Bridge Improvement Program, covering five bridge rehabilitation and five bridge replacement projects annually and making regular upgrades to railroad track, ties and ballast.
For Station and Parking, Metra will modernize seven passenger stations, including projects to improve accessibility, add climate-controlled waiting space, improve worn boarding platforms and install bicycle parking racks.
The Signal, Electrical and Communications category includes initiatives that will improve signal systems, including investments in maintaining the train signal, electric power supply and telecommunications components. Finally, Facilities and Equipment projects will prioritize building crew facilities, rehabilitating facilities, upgrading roofs and installing heating and ventilations systems.
A selection of the highest cost projects laid out in the 2026 Capital Program include:
- $141 million to buy 200 modern, multilevel railcars and retire outdated vehicles.
- $82.6 million to buy and operate self-propelled, zero-emissions trainsets.
- $19.1 million to replace track ties, clean or replace ballast and replace switch heaters and related components.
- $16.6 million to rehabilitate self-propelled electric cars, including repairing car body structure, interior components, critical safety components, updating accessibility elements and overhauling propulsion control systems.
- $12 million to upgrade the signal system between CP 11th Place and 65th Street interlocking on the Metra Electric Line and design two new interlockings at separate locations.
Photo by Mehmet Suat Gunerli from Pexels
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