O’hare Airport Transit System (ATS) Expansion & Modification - Illinois

Jul 14

Transportation | Transit & Rail | Airport Transit System | Illinois

Project Summary

This project provides the City of Chicago with a wireless train control system and 36 new electric train cars. A new 2,000 FT extension to the elevated guideway was constructed and extended from the existing passenger station in Lot E (remote parking) to a new passenger station in LOT F, which is also known as the Consolidated Rental Car Facility. To facilitate the new extension: a new traction power substation was built; traction power duct banks were installed to provide power to the new power rails; a facility power substation which provides power for the new train control equipment along the extension, an ATS Support Building which contains the new train control equipment, multiple traction power switching stations, new UPS equipment, guide-way heating and emergency lighting.

Along the existing guideway, Aldridge was responsible for providing power and communications to the passenger stations, traction power substation, facility power substations, and automatic train control (ATC) control rooms.

A new Maintenance and Storage Facility addition (M&SF) was constructed, with two new maintenance tracks in their existing yard and an additional MRV (maintenance and recovery vehicle) storage track. These tracks require the same train control equipment, communications, guide-way heating, and traction power as was previously mentioned for the expansion guideway. Emergency yard lighting was also installed throughout the yard. The existing Communications Command Center was modified in order to cut over from the existing transmission line assembly control system to the new wireless system.

A number of innovations and specialty tooling were used while performing this work.