October 07, 2020

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $1.18 Million for CTA Safety Improvements

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,183,091 in federal funding to support safety improvements for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will support CTA’s Station Third Rail Safety Enhancement Pilot Project, which would add additional safety features on the third rails in the vicinity of station platforms, including non-conductive side boards on both sides of the third rail which would reduce the likelihood of a person making contact with the rail. A second safety feature is also proposed to include the isolation of the third rail through the stations such that when no train is approaching or present at the station, the third rail would be de-energized. 

“Improving Chicago’s public transit system isn't just about making commutes better for hardworking Chicagoans – it’s also about making sure our transit systems are as safe as possible,” said Duckworth. “Today’s funding will help ensure additional safety features are installed at CTA’s station platforms and I look forward to continuing to work with Senator Durbin on future investments like these.

“This grant funding improves CTA’s infrastructure by installing various safety features that can help prevent injury or death in the event of an incident on the platforms,” Durbin said. “Senator Duckworth and I will continue to work to make CTA as safe as possible through federal investments like these.”