Description:

Northwestern University Transportation Center Hagestad Sandhouse Rail Group presents: 

CTA's RPM Project in 2021: Progress, Challenges and Milestones 

Christopher Bushell, Senior Vice President, Chief RPM Officer, Chicago Transit Authority

Graham Garfield, General Manager, RPM Operations & Communication Coordination, Chicago Transit Authority

Tuesday, October 16, 2021 @ 12:00pm CT

Zoom Webinar

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fqyUpAvQQGGA_JSTSNmlEw

Meeting ID: 968 5614 6733

Abstract: 

CTA's $2.1 billion RPM project, a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project, is well underway in constructing transformative improvements for CTA's customers and community partners. Since last presenting to the Sandhouse Gang a year ago, the RPM project has progressed on multiple fronts, placing new track and signal infrastructure in service to support future phases of construction, as well as beginning heavy civil construction for permanent improvements. Construction for rebuilding the four stations and the eastern two tracks and support structures between Lawrence and Bryn Mawr are underway; the major milestone of placing the grade-separated bypass track, which eliminates train traffic conflicts where Red, Purple and Brown Line trains currently intersect, is imminent. These achievements, and other work currently underway for the next phases of construction, have come with a number of challenges, as is typical for a project of this scale. These achievements, challenges and milestones will be discussed, along with a preview of the next stages of construction.

Speaker Bios:

Christopher Bushell

Christopher Bushell is Chief of the Chicago Transit Authority’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Project and a Senior Vice President for the CTA. Prior to taking his current position in 2018, he was Chief Infrastructure Officer for the CTA, and oversaw the maintenance, construction, and engineering related to the CTA's rail infrastructure from 2007 to 2018. His career prior to CTA included design and construction management as a consultant to the Chicago Public Schools; Director of Capital Renovations in the Chicago Public School's Department of Operations; and First Deputy Executive Director for the City of Chicago's Department of Construction and Permits. Chris is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he received his Master’s Degree in Architecture.

Graham Garfield

Graham Garfield is the General Manager of RPM Operations & Communication Coordination, coordinating the Red and Purple Modernization Project construction with CTA's Planning, and Bus and Rail Operations departments; customer communications for construction impacts within CTA rail stations, railcars and buses; and standards for permanent customer communications within new rail stations. Working for CTA since 1999, he has previously held management positions in CTA’s Facilities, Construction and Rail Operations departments, and was GM of Customer Information, overseeing the agency’s signage, branding, publications, graphics, and digital and social media for 12 years. A transit professional, Graham has a background in planning, operations, design and history.

Zoom Webinar

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://northwestern.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fqyUpAvQQGGA_JSTSNmlEw

Or an H.323/SIP room system:

    H.323: 162.255.37.11 (US West) or 162.255.36.11 (US East)

    Meeting ID: 968 5614 6733

    SIP: 96856146733@zoomcrc.com

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