CTA Red Line Extension Program Management

HNTB provides program management services for the CTA Red Line Extension (RLE) project — a proposed 5.6-mile heavy rail rapid transit exten­sion of the Red Line on Chicago’s Far South Side. The project will construct four new stations that feature bus connections and parking facilities, and provide a modern, efficient car storage yard and shop facility. RLE is one part of CTA’s Red Ahead Program to extend and enhance the entire Red Line.

Program Management

HNTB set up the RLE PMC team structure and established the federal New Starts strategy, preliminary engineering, NEPA and program controls. Select tasks include extension of staff services, program and project controls, long-term cash flow, Quality Management Plan, project delivery methods, financial planning, operations planning, New Starts strategy, and over­sight of future phases, including engineering and construction.

Preliminary Engineering Oversight

As PMC, HNTB oversees the Preliminary Engineering (PE) process and PE consultant (PEC) directly, including verification that the work through 30% design level meets a professional standard, complies with FTA and CTA policies and standards and is within the mutually agreed upon schedule and budget.

The PMC delivers for CTA by identifying obstacles, conflicts, and risks, and verifying that plans are advanced to resolve said issues. Specific tasks include the development of project specific design criteria using CTA’s Infrastructure Design Criteria Manual for project components such as stations, train control systems, communications systems, storm water management, parking facilities, and yard and shop; Facilitation and review of 30% design and engineering; oversight of bridging documents, geotechnical survey and reports, utility coordination, code and permit review; review of project cost estimates; and preparation of independent constructability analysis; among other tasks.

Technical Papers and Reports

In the PMC role, HNTB has prepared numerous technical memo­randa and other policy and strategy documents to guide the successful implementation of RLE. These include FTA New Starts Program Project Development phase strategy, bus service planning/analysis, rail service alternatives, ridership forecasting methodology and STOPS model calibration results, cost modeling, Analysis of Project Delivery Methods, Project Management Plan (PMP), and related Management Capacity Plans and various technical subplans (including Construction Management Plans, Safety and Security Management Plans, Risk and Contingency Management Plan), among other items.

CTA’s CIG New Starts Grant for the Red Line Extension

HNTB is leading the New Starts strategy for the multi-year CIG process. The New Starts grant (once awarded in late 2024) will unlock over one billion dollars in federal CIG funding to help make the RLE Project a reality for thousands of residents of Chicago’s Far South Side. HNTB’s work includes New Starts strategy, project controls, development of a PMP and various technical subplans (fleet mgmt., risk, real estate, safety and security, mgmt. capacity, etc), preliminary engineering oversight leading to 30% level of design, development of an RLE Financial Plan, development of a funding strategy, ridership forecasting, capital and operating cost estimation, service planning, community outreach, and third party coordination.

Rendering courtesy of M2