| The Chicago region is the world's third busiest intermodal hub, covering approximately 16,000 acres. It's also where six of the seven Class I freight railroads converge and where nearly a quarter of the nation's rail shipments move to or through the Chicago region.
The CREATE project will maximize the use of five train transportation corridors, including four primarily handling freight traffic and one primarily handling passenger traffic. The project involves approximately 60 improvements, including:
- 25 new roadway overpasses or underpasses at locations where auto and pedestrian traffic currently crosses railroad tracks at grade level
- 6 new rail overpasses or underpasses to separate passenger and freight train tracks
- Viaduct improvements
- Grade crossing safety enhancements
- Extensive upgrades of tracks, switches and signal systems
The project will require six to ten years to construct and will be completed in multiple phases.
Selecting the improvements for CREATE was a collaborative process between the freight railroads, State of Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Chicago Department of Transportation, Metra and Amtrak. Input on grade crossings and traffic congestion was considered from the Illinois Commerce Commission and Chicago Area Transportation Study.
Six private freight railroads are planning to make a $212 equity contribution to support the project. They include: BNSF Railway, Canadian Pacific Railway, CN, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Corporation and Union Pacific Railroad. The railroads are represented by the American Association of Railroads. |
