PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The electrical infrastructure at Metra’s LaSalle street station was deteriorating due to the amount of salt used during the winter months.  In addition to the infrastructure, the structural pads and control boxes were nearing end of life and needed to be replaced.  Delta designed fixes for these issues in order to increase overall reliability and uptime, as well as mitigate future issues.

Delta had to verify and document in the field the as-installed configuration of the existing electrical conduits routed under the tracks on the north side of the parking lot.  New conduits and cables will be replaced and relocated due to their current condition. This includes the large junction boxes currently installed at pull points for the conduits. New control boxes will be modeled off of the existing standby power control panel that was recently replaced. Relocation will allow future structural upgrades to the platform.

Delta additionally provided electrical and structural engineering design services to relocate and replace the station’s 480V standby power system with new control cabinets, connectors, and equipment pads for six tracks.

Delta prepared designs and construction plans for the following:

• Replacement/relocation of existing conduit and cables
• Removal/replacement of protective steel plates underneath rails and equipment
• Replacement of the existing standby control power boxes— including:
  • 480V receptacle assembly and train connector cables with plugs for six tracks
  • Deteriorated metal bumping post pads along track area
• Installation of new pull boxes in garage area (north & south ends) for conduit runs
• Re-feeding existing conduit loads and rework of feeders for the watermain pipe heat tracing

PROJECT CHALLENGES

Delta needed to field verify existing conditions, sizes, and quantities of cables and conduits in order to design upgrades. Due to inaccessibility of components for inspection, extra coordination was required to obtain necessary equipment and close off working areas. Using a forklift, Delta verified existing conditions under the garage ceiling to more accurately provide replacement quantities.