The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program has been awarded more than $290 million in USDOT grants for the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP), described as “the largest rail chokepoint in the Chicago Region.”
Through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program, the CREATE Program will receive $209,877,984 from the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program and $81,301,065 from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program. Both grants are for the CIP, specifically, Segment A of CREATE Project EW2, a three-mile elevated rail corridor on Chicago’s South Side that will bring critical upgrades and increased capacity, including reconfigured track segments, new signals at Belt Junction, a third track addition to the Norfolk Southern line, and replacement and restoration of 14 aging bridge and viaduct structures.
“A substantial portion of the EW2 Project must be completed to start building the Rock Island Connection (P2) Project,” CREATE officials explained. “The capacity increase is necessary for realizing the travel time and throughput benefits of P2, allowing Metra to direct 30 SouthWest Service trains to LaSalle Street station and freeing up around 30 slots at Chicago Union Station for Amtrak and Metra service expansions.”
“With these grant awards, the CREATE Program is excited to build upon the momentum of the first two components within the 75th Street Corridor—the Forest Hill Flyover (CREATE Project P3) and the 71st Street Grade Separation (CREATE Project GS19)—which were funded through a 2018 INFRA grant and are currently in Phase III of construction,” officials noted. “These initial phases have established a strong foundation for comprehensive improvements that will boost the efficiency and safety of the region’s rail network, yielding significant benefits to both Chicago and the broader national transportation system.
“The 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project has become a national model in many respects, exemplifying how infrastructure development can prioritize community engagement and equity. It shows that strategic planning and collaboration can lead to improvements that truly benefit all residents, while also advancing equitable job creation by actively including disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) and union labor. The recently funded elements of the CREATE Program’s 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project are representative of a unified commitment to enhancing rail capacity at a regional and national scale, adding capacity for intercity and commuter rail service, and ensuring a more resilient supply chain across North America.”
“Investment in the 75th Street Corridor underscores our shared commitment to advancing reliable, efficient transportation solutions that benefit businesses and communities alike,” said Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Addressing this critical chokepoint will strengthen rail safety and fluidity locally while also paving the way for a more resilient supply chain and sustainable growth across the nation.”
