2. ASSOCIATION
OF AMERICAN
RAILROADS

3. Chicago Rail Infrastructure
16,000 acres, twice the area of O’Hare
78 yards, including 21 intermodal (rail-truck)
2,800 route-miles of track
12 commuter rail routes
1,100 viaducts and bridges
Daily Activity:
1,200 trains (500 freight, 700 passenger)
37,500 rail cars processed
20,000 truck moves through intermodal gates
16,000 in the REGION
So you can imagine the impacts our communities feel

4. Chicago: The Nation’s Transportation Hub
World’s 3rd busiest intermodal hub.
One third of all freight rail traffic converges on Chicago daily.
Chicago’s rail network is a key part of national, regional and local economy.
Over the next 20 years, freight rail volume in Chicago will increase between 50-80%.
If rail capacity is not addressed, Chicago will lose $2 billion in production over the next two decades.
surpassed only by Hong Kong and Singapore

5. “Unless we do something, Chicago is in danger of becoming a bottleneck in the nation’s rail transportation system. And that would have serious consequences not just for the city but for the nation as a whole. If we don’t make improvements, we can expect even worse congestion.”
— Mayor Richard M. Daley
In 2000 Mayor Daley engaged the STB
Laundry list of the effects on residents
Chicago Rail Task Force was formed
Meet twice a year (2 in DC, 2 in Chicago)
Asked for a long term plan

6. CREATE Project Focuses operation on 5 corridors
Builds 25 road/rail separations
Builds 6 passenger/freight rail flyovers
Viaduct improvement program
Grade crossing safety enhancements
Improves train control system
50 miles of new track on existing right-of-way
Combined length of corridors 122 miles
364 new switches
Automation of 14 interlockings
(Concentrate on first 6)

7. 2 N-S
2 E-W
One moving diagonal trough City
REDUNDANCY

8. Southwest Service shifts from Union Station to LaSalle St Station
Preserves “footprint” for
Midwest Highspeed Rail
Route nearly 100%
freight - passenger separated
(Ashburn)
Direct Route into Union Station
for Amtrak trains
through Champaign

9. BELTWAY CORRIDOR PROJECTS
Franklin Park
Broadview
Chicago
Ridge
Blue Island
South Holland

10. EAST-WEST CORRIDOR PROJECTS
Bedford
Park
75th Street
Port of Chicago

11. WESTERN AVENUE CORRIDOR PROJECTS
Eisenhower Expressway
75th Street
Blue Island
South Holland

12. CENTRAL CORRIDOR PROJECTS
Franklin Park
Forest Park
Oak Park
Grand Crossing

13. What we do here with CREATE affects the entire nation.
Six of the major railroads terminate here: 2 Eastern, 2 Canadian, 2 Western

14. National Benefits
Improvements in Chicago’s rail network will benefit the rest of the Midwest and the rest of the country.
5 million jobs nationwide, $782 billion in output and $217 billion in wages.
After Illinois, the 4 states most economically dependant on Chicago’s rail are California, Texas, Ohio and New Jersey.
Businesses demand “Just In Time” precision.
Every state in the nation depends on Chicago’s freight transportation infrastructure.
Businesses across the country depend on rail to draw from distant suppliers and reach new markets with “just in time” precision.

15. Local and Regional Benefits The CREATE project will bring the Chicago region billions of dollars in societal, economic and job-related benefits.
Less Congestion, fewer delays
Increased safety
Improved commuter rail service
Cleaner air
A stronger economy
Increased lakefront land use
- New grade separations will eliminate the wait for motorists at 25 grade crossings.
–Motorists - save 3,000 hours a day. Over $200 M in savings
– Six Chicago “911”-critical crossings grade separated - public safety will increase significantly.
– 6 new rail-to-rail “fly-overs” – overpasses and underpasses - will allow expanded, more reliable, and more efficient commuter service. $190 M in time saved
– The plan will help Chicago region conserve energy and reduce pollution. During the plan’s initial year, nitrogen oxide will be reduced by 1,459 tons, carbon monoxide by 459 tons and particulates by 51 tons. $1.2 billion in savings.
– The rail industry employs 38,000 Chicago area workers, whose annual wages top $1.7 billion. The value of rail service to Chicago area shippers is $22 billion. The plan is expected to generate over $2.2 billion in construction and job-related activity.
– The St. Charles Airline route rail traffic will be shifted to other rail corridors. Portions of the right-of-way may be converted to park land, while other sections may be used for residential and commercial development. The City of Chicago will gain additional green space and will benefit from the multi-year construction projects involving both housing and retail developments

16. Grade Separation Projects
Separations
Projects
Grade
Separation
Projects

17. METRA Delay from Freight Train Interference
CTCO began due to the blizzard of ’99
Can’t make any more progress without physical improvements
Which leads us to the rail-rail flyovers (next slide)

18. Rail over Rail Grade Separations
Brighton Park
CP Canal
Englewood
74th Street
Chicago Ridge
75th Street

19. Next Steps Information dissemination and feedback
Secure public funds from state and federal sources
Begin design engineering
IDOT contribution - $10M
Railroad contribution - $2.5M

20. “In 1909, architect Daniel Burnham proposed a single union station (as part of a grand Plan of Chicago) that would consolidate all the railroads into one terminal and make the city a more livable place. It was expensive, controversial, and required the agreement of every railroad — and therefore was not adopted.”
Trains Magazine
Take us into the future
Make Chicago World Class City