CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $132 million for a major railroad improvement program on Chicago’s South Side that officials say will cut freight and commuter train delays, decrease train idling and improve air...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2018/06/05-us-sets-aside-$132-million-for-chicago-rail-project
Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine
From the article (emphasis added):
"The program, the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, is the largest project in the broader Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency, or CREATE, a public-private partnership intended to reduce rail congestion in the Chicago network, the nation’s busiest rail hub. CREATE includes some 70 projects.The 75th Street CIP is projected to cost $1 billion, but no funding has been identified for the total project. The environmental analysis phase is complete and the project is ready to proceed into the final design phase."
From the rest of the article, it's a huge project.
- PDN.
I'm quite familiar with the scope of the project since I ride through the corridor twice daily on Metra's Southwest Service (ex-Wabash). One portion that is going to be a major sticking point is rerouting the Southwest Service into La Salle Street Station. The proposed route would be built through an existing Chicago park, which will raise lots of complaints from various influential groups such as Friends Of The Parks. This leads me to believe that the Southwest Service will continue going to Union Station.
So I am going to be on the 765 Rock Island Rocket in the Fall. Thought I would try another Chicago area steam train excursion. I am really surprised how few Rock Island Commuter trains run on the weekend as compared to some other METRA district lines. I will be driving vs using the train. Too many layovers otherwise.
CSSHEGEWISCH I'm quite familiar with the scope of the project since I ride through the corridor twice daily on Metra's Southwest Service (ex-Wabash). One portion that is going to be a major sticking point is rerouting the Southwest Service into La Salle Street Station. The proposed route would be built through an existing Chicago park, which will raise lots of complaints from various influential groups such as Friends Of The Parks. This leads me to believe that the Southwest Service will continue going to Union Station.
The EIS was completed and signed in 2014. See http://www.75thcip.org for project details. This funding will allow Phase II, Final Design, plus Phase III, Construction, on two projects in the 75th St CIP: The CSX flyover of BRC (P3) and (Argo-B9) at the west end of BRC's Clearing Yard. The 71st St grade separation (GS14) is physically close to B9, but is considered part of the Beltway corridor. It's also included in this grant. IDK if this is enough to totally fund these projects, or if the railroads, city & state now have to pony up their parts for this construction. I'm guessing the latter is true.
The Metra Flyover Connection to the Rock Island District (P2) will have minimal impact on Hamilton Park. There will need to be temporary access to construct a retaining wall on RR property, and then the affected park land will be restored.
The CSX flyover was a 'stand-alone' project within the 75th St area and can be accomplished before the rest of the projects in the area.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.