The Metra Board of Directors today approved a contract of up to $20 million to purchase video monitors that will be installed at every station to provide up-to-the-minute travel information to customers from Metra’s new train tracking and communications system.
The contract is with Global Display Solutions Inc. of Rockford, Ill., which will supply weather-proof LCD monitors of various sizes to be installed at all 242 – soon to be 244 – stations, replacing outdated scrolling LED signs. The displays will be similar to demonstration signs that have already been installed at eight stations, including Van Buren St., McCormick Place and Healy.
“These new displays will be a major upgrade to our current station signs,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. “They will provide train-tracking and schedule updates to waiting customers from our new train tracking system – the same information that is already available at metratracker.com, metra.com and the Ventra app. The signs will also display service alerts and other Metra information.”