As a Principal Planner at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in the early 1980’s, Mr. Gaul was assigned to the Orange Line design project. He initiated the planning efforts that allowed for the implementation of One Person Train Operation (OPTO) on the new line. Although CTA had pioneered heavy rail rapid transit OPTO as early as 1961, its use was limited to one or two car trains. The majority of the system still required two person crews. Mr. Gaul sponsored and participated in a Transportation Research Board funded study on converting the older US rapid transit systems to OPTO. He then incorporated the necessary features into the design of the Orange Line to support OPTO. These included the incorporation of full width Train Operator’s cabs equipped with the requisite door controls into the new fleet. The Orange Line opened in 1993, and was the first CTA OPTO line with full length trains.
This accomplishment set the stage for an orderly expansion of the concept at CTA. As operating experience was gained, the Brown Line was also converted to OPTO in 1995, also using the specially designed rolling stock. And finally in 1997, in response to operating budget pressures, the CTA was able to expand the concept system wide.
