Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has launched the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, a proposed series of projects that will invest nearly $1.1 billion in regional rail infrastructure and upgrade Chicago’s Union Station. The funding would improve performance and reduce delays while strengthening the state's and city's position as the country's transportation hub. The effort is supported by $50 million from Gov. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is the largest and only one in state history that touches all modes of transportation.
"The Chicago Hub Improvement Program is an opportunity for new federal infrastructure funding to catalyze the rail system this region deserves," said Gov. Pritzker. "This proposal would not only make much-needed improvements to Union Station and existing rail lines throughout Illinois and into Michigan — it would unlock a vast system of new and expanded passenger rail services throughout the Midwest, with Chicago's Union Station serving as the hub. These kinds of investments allow our residents to more easily access places and opportunities beyond their immediate neighborhoods and they open doors for new jobs and new businesses. The Chicago Hub Improvement Program, with its scope and scale, will have an enormously positive impact on people's lives, not just in Illinois, but across the nation.
The Chicago Hub Improvement Program aims to secure a $872.8 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's Federal/State Partnership Program, made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funding will advance a multitude of regional improvements, resulting in better performance for travelers in the Midwest and across the country. As Amtrak's top national priority, the projects will expand capacity, eliminate bottlenecks and improve air quality, accessibility, reliability and customer experience for more than 30 million passengers annually.
Grant applicants with Amtrak include the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Chicago Department of Transportation, Cook County, Metra, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Michigan Department of Transportation, which are contributing a combined $218.2 million toward the improvements. Grant announcements are anticipated later this year.
"The time is now to seize the opportunity to maximize Chicago's role as the passenger rail hub of the nation and position both the city and the state to remain the economic engine for the Midwest and its people, for generations to come," said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia.
The investment in Union Station consists of improving platforms, upgrading the concourse and reactivating tracks for passenger use that were first built for the Old Post Office, increasing capacity for both Amtrak and Metra. The ventilation system will be upgraded and the grant will also provide a new connection between Union Station and the St. Charles Air Line bridge over the south branch of the Chicago River near 18th Street. The connection, combined with an additional track east of the bridge, will save up to 15 minutes on Illini/Saluki and city of New Orleans trains. Another program element will restore 16 miles of a second track Amtrak owns in southwest Michigan to eliminate a bottleneck and help reduce by 30 minutes the trip between Chicago and Detroit.
In the past 15 years, ridership in Illinois has doubled, with the introduction this summer of two 110 mph passenger trains between Chicago and St. Louis. Today, more than half of all the country's long-distance rides begin or end at Union Station. The improvements also are necessary to support expansions to Minneapolis/St. Paul and several Wisconsin destinations. More than 15 intercity passenger routes will benefit.
Rebuild Illinois is investing a combined total of $33.2 billion into the state's aging transportation system, creating jobs and promoting economic growth. The program is investing in roads and bridges, transit, waterways, aviation and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations across the state, identifying a total of $1 billion for rail, with $600 million supporting passenger service.
"Cook County's is pleased to be a financial partner for the Chicago Hub Improvement Program. This transformational program will help the region and the nation reach important transportation goals," said Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. "This project will make room for Amtrak to upgrade and expand service, give new transportation options to those who don't have access to other modes and make Union Station more convenient and accessible for all users. I am grateful for the continued commitment of our region's transportation partners to make this project a reality as we work to strengthen our transportation infrastructure and move toward long-term sustainability and growth in our county and country."
"Under Gov. Pritzker, we are making transformational investments in every part of the state, making communities more attractive for business and enhancing quality of life," said IDOT Secretary Omer Osman. "These improvements will be felt across our entire multimodal system of transportation for generations to come, benefiting everyone in the Chicago area, Illinois and the Midwest."
