This is a multi-year $70 million program to reconstruct approximately 10 miles of the Light Rail Track constructed in 1980 from Kinsman Road east through Shaker Square and to the eastern ends of the Blue and Green Lines.
This program has been included in prior year Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) as well as the current 2024-2028 CIP that was adopted by our Board of Trustees on May 16, 2023 and is ODOT PID No’s. 104553 and 118479. Initial elements of the program were included in the previous SFY 2021-2024 TIP/STIP and the remainder of the program is included in the current SFY 2024-2027 TIP/STIP. We have allocated additional Federal Transit Administration (FTA) formula funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for a total of $21.0 million of FTA formula grants as well as $14.0 million of GCRTA local match. GCRTA was awarded $4.3 million of ODOT TRAC funding in SFY 2022. We are seeking additional grants to secure the remaining $30.7 million of funding required for the program.
At this time, we have the program divided into eight projects. The first four are primarily Specialty Track projects that include numerous turnouts, crossovers and associated appurtenances. They include the installation of the East 75th Street Interlocking with 3 crossovers and 6 – 115# RE turnouts between Kinsman and East 79th station, the reconstruction of the Shaker Junction turnouts, track crossings, and roadway crossings where the Blue and Green Lines separate, the reconstruction of the Moreland pocket track and turnouts just east of Shaker Square, and the reconstruction of the turnouts, crossovers and track at the Warrensville Van Aken Station at the terminus of the Blue Line. The last project listed received $4.3 million of TRAC funding in SFY 2022
The remaining four are track reconstruction projects include 8.4 miles of rail track located between the Shaker Square station and the eastern termini of the Blue and Green Lines. They could be combined into two projects with the award of competitive grant funding. This work will include the complete removal of the existing 100# RB rail, ties, and undercutting of existing track bed ballast and replaced with 115# RE rail, 7 X 9 ties, and traprock ballast. The work also includes significant drainage improvements along the Green Line.
The first project, the East 75th Street Interlocking, contract was awarded on July 26, 2022, with construction substantially completed on September 30, 2023. The second project funded by ODOT TRAC, the Warrensville Van Aken Blue Line terminus will be bidding in the Summer of 2024. The third project, the Shaker Junction is currently under design.
This work will allow GCRTA to increase the track speeds from 35 mph back to 45 mph and increase our peak hour trains from nine to twelve cars when our new rail vehicles arrive. Completion of this project will provide our customers with safer, faster, smoother, and more reliable rail service in this area.
The $3 million of Community Project Funding we are requesting will go toward the reconstruction of the Blue Line tracks and will be expended in calendar years 2025 and 2026.
Light Rail Track Replacement - Overview
