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CTA construction update: ASAP station upgrades, Canal traction work and RPM milestones
Summary
Chief Infrastructure Officer Bill Mooney reported May 14 on traction power work at Canal, a major bridge deck pour, progress on Austin and Racine ASAP stations and RPM milestones including Clark Junction re-opening; diversity programs reported DBE and workforce attainment on RPM Phase 1.
CTA’s infrastructure team told the board on May 14 that major capital projects are progressing, with traction power equipment installations, station work and project milestones advancing across ASAP and RPM portfolios.
Bill Mooney, chief infrastructure officer, said traction power equipment is being installed at the Canalside facility and commissioning is expected this summer. A large deck pour on a bridge project was completed as a single-day operation; Mooney called it a complex milestone for CTA’s elevated-structure work.
Mooney updated the board on ASAP projects: Austin station has moved from the planning to construction phase following a groundbreaking and will close its primary entrance for elevator installation later this summer; California is out to bid after an acquisition; Montrose and 16 elevator rehab projects are finalizing designs; Pulaski, Oak Park and Bridgeland procurement for designers is underway. Mooney highlighted a directional bore under a highway to bring in power lines required for elevator and station work and noted required coordination with IDOT and the city’s underground-review office.
On RPM (Red-Purple Modernization) work, Mooney described the full reopening of Clark Junction (a historic corridor first opened in 1895 and reestablished in 2025), recent track work that enabled five-track operations in the corridor, and station progress at Lawrence, Bryn Mawr and Argyle. He also showed before-and-after refresh-and-renew photos tied to recent baseball-season station work.
Britney Johnson (diversity programs) reported RPM Phase 1 DBE and workforce metrics: 122 unique DBEs awarded more than $299 million between design and construction; $233 million paid to date (20.56% attainment of a 20% goal). On workforce, 2,666 unique individuals worked more than 2.3 million labor hours and have earned over $142 million to date; outreach events and apprenticeship fairs were listed as part of workforce development work.
What’s next: Mooney and staff said they will return to the board with vendor recommendations and construction schedules as bids and procurements complete and will continue to provide ASAP and RPM status updates.
