November 19, 2025

Successful Metra 16th St Cutover

Modern Railway Systems (MRS) has successfully completed a third cutover on the Metra 16th Street project, following the decommissioning of the 124-year-old 16th Street Relay Tower. This milestone represents another important step in modernizing one of Chicago’s most historically significant rail junctions.

The team also completed the installation and upgrades of the Polk and Taylor houses just outside the busy LaSalle Street Station. These improvements included modernizing critical communications systems to enhance reliability, safety, and coordination in one of the city’s most active rail corridors.

MRS provided full design and technical support services for the cutover, while Metra field crews executed the installation. Tom Hunter, Mike Weber, and Don Carlson played key roles in delivering MRS expertise on site and ensuring a seamless transition during this complex phase of work.

As the project continues, attention now shifts toward two remaining phases in the area of the historic St. Charles Air Line Bridge. These upcoming stages will further strengthen system performance and support long-term operational efficiency for Metra’s network. MRS remains committed to advancing safe, modern, and dependable rail infrastructure throughout the region.