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T.Y. Lin International Announces Completion of Joliet Gateway Center in Joliet, Illinois

T.Y. Lin International Announces Completion of Joliet Gateway Center in Joliet, Illinois

Project Completions

 

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T.Y. Lin International (TYLI), a globally recognized, full-service infrastructure consulting firm, announces the completion of the new Joliet Gateway Center in Joliet, Illinois. As Project Management Consultant for the project, TYLI assisted the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation, Bureau of Capital Transit, (IDOT) in overseeing the design and construction of the new Multimodal Regional Transportation Center (MRTC).

The Joliet Gateway Center brings together Amtrak passenger rail service, Metra suburban rail service, future high-speed rail, Pace suburban buses, and intercity buses in a single, common facility. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story train station building holds Metra and Amtrak ticket offices, indoor waiting areas on both the first and second floors, and elevator and stair access to the new Metra Rock Island platform and the new Heritage Corridor platform. Track realignments were included in the scope of work, which helped eliminate a freight bottleneck and increased train passenger safety.

The Public-Private Partnership (P3) for the project, led by IDOT, in conjunction with Amtrak, Metra, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF), Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), Pace, and the City of Joliet, worked together to make this project a reality.

TYLI provided overall project management, design oversight, and construction management services for six construction contracts, working on behalf of IDOT and the City of Joliet. The contracts totaled approximately $42M in construction work completed since 2011 to open the depot building and new train passenger platforms.

During the design phase, TYLI provided coordination and oversight services between the local agencies, Class 1 railroads, passenger rail services, and local stakeholders. Design oversight included master schedule and budget monitoring, establishing and maintaining a web-based document control system, reviewing all design submittals, and coordinating environmental and utility relocation activities. The firm also performed constructability and staging reviews and conducted Quality Management Plan compliance reviews.

TYLI’s coordination efforts included working closely with all key stakeholders and the railroads to develop project agreements for project access, ultimate shared use of right-of-way, maintenance responsibilities for embankments, shared track, platforms, and other appurtenances. Over 25 separate agreements were processed, covering the various combinations of state agencies, local governments, public transit agencies, and private railroads.

During construction, TYLI provided construction management services to ensure that all contracts were completed in accordance with the design plans and that work met the requirements of the State grants and the City of Joliet. The firm also provided resident engineering services for activities such as field inspection, quality assurance, material testing, survey support, submittal and shop drawing coordination, engineering support, and project controls and documentation.

Construction of the MRTC required partial or total closures of Metra and Amtrak stations and parking facilities, use of temporary facilities, and shortened platform boarding areas. TYLI focused on successful staging that allowed for passenger convenience and safe movements through the work zone. Track realignments and signal relocations for Metra, BNSF, and UPRR were also carefully planned, staged, and coordinated with freight and passenger operations to minimize delays while providing worker access.

The new Joliet Gateway Center is a key part of the revitalization of downtown Joliet, which is Illinois’ third largest city and located 35 miles southwest of Chicago. Along with vastly improving access and convenience for the traveling public, the new MRTC will create a positive effect on the local Joliet and Will County economies and the regional transportation network.

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