Chicago’s rail connection will receive significant upgrades following a more than $132 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) this week, as part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) project.
CREATE — a joint project of Chicago, the State of Illinois and USDOT — is a public-private partnership meant to update fright, passenger and commuter railroads serving Chicago. The funds, in this case, will go to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and will specifically fund the 75th Street Corridor Improvements and Argo Connections portions of the project. The money was awarded through the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation received one of the largest INFRA grants this year, totaling $132 million through an exemplary public-private partnership created to improve freight connectivity, decrease congestion, and enhance safety along this nationally significant rail network,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.