The Capital Metro Transportation Authority board of directors moved one step toward meeting a federal mandate to implement an enhanced automatic train control system on Monday. The board approved a resolution authorizing the CEO to finalize and execute a design-build contract with Modern Railway Systems Inc. for finalizing the design, installation, testing and commissioning of the positive train control, or PTC, system. It also approved the PTC system’s supporting fiber optic communication system on Capital Metro’s commuter rail corridor. It will cost up to $65,675,000. A PTC system prevents train-to-train collisions, prevents overspeed derailments, prevents train movement through a mainline track switch in the improper position, prevents incursions into work zones with appropriate authority and verification, and enforces mandatory decisions by authorities, according to a presentation from Capital Metro. The system improves safety by issuing warnings when a train approaches a speed restriction, according to the presentation. If the train operator fails to adequately reduce its speed, the system enforces a reduction in speed. The system also enforces braking or speed reductions when a train is approaching a segment of track occupied by another train, a work zone or misaligned switch, the presentation said. Melvin Clark, rail systems safety and regulatory compliance officer for Capital Metro, presented the resolution to the board Monday morning. He said the agency’s certified financial officer has not yet finalized the cost analysis for the project, although the board did approve the cost to over $65 million. The transit agency was awarded $9.76 million in federal grant funds on May 31 with the intention it would be used to help install the fiber communications network for the PTC system. The transit agency must implement the new system by Dec. 31, 2018, according to the U.S Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. According to the presentation given by Clark, the transit agency plans to apply for an extension to complete the project by Dec. 31, 2020, instead.