CTA hires construction manager/GC for Red Line project

The Chicago Transit Board has named a construction manager and general contractor for the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) $240 million project to expand the Red Line 95th Street Terminal at the 95th Street/Dan Ryan Station.

The board approved awarding a contract to Walsh/II in One J.V., which will serve as construction manager/general contractor. Through the arrangement, a construction manager for the entire project is slated to begin work during the design phase, rather than the typical practice of hiring a general contractor after the design is completed, CTA officials said in a press release.

Benefits of the arrangement include reducing the chances of project delays and cost overruns, and advancing the start of construction by five months, they said.

The contract's value is not to exceed $648,000. Construction on the terminal is scheduled to begin in spring 2014 and be completed by 2016's end. Funding will be provided through a variety of federal, state and local sources.

The project will expand and improve the station, which is considered a vital part of Chicago's South Side and serves about 20,000 riders each weekday. The terminal is one of CTA's busiest, with 24-hour Red Line service.

The current 95th Street Terminal will remain open during the project, CTA officials said. The rail station portion of the terminal is scheduled to reopen Oct. 20, when the Red Line South branch is reopened following a five-month, $425 million project to rebuilt the 10-mile stretch into a new railroad, they said.