ASSOCIATIONOF AMERICAN

RAILROADS

Chicago Area 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

• 37,500 rail cars processed

• 20,000 truck moves through intermodal gates

Chicago: The Nation’s Transportation Hub

• Chicago is the world’s 3rd busiest intermodal hub, surpassed only by Hong Kong and Singapore. Everyday, about one third of all freight rail traffic converges on Chicago.

• 700 passenger trains and 500 freight trains go through Chicago every day.

• Chicago’s rail network is a key part of national regional and local economy. One third of America’s goods and products move to from or through Chicago.

• Over the next 20 years, freight rail volume in Chicago will increase by roughly 80%. If rail capacity is not addressed, studies suggest that Chicago will lose $2 billion in production over the next two decades.

CREATE Project

• Focuses operation on 5 corridors

• Combined length of corridors 122 miles

• Builds 25 road/rail separations

• Builds 6 passenger/freight rail fly-overs

• Improves train control system

• 50 miles of new track on existing right-of-way

• 364 new switches

• Automation of 14 interlockings

Benefits from Chicago Rail Improvements

• Increases safety

• Gives Metra riders a faster more efficient commute

• Reduces cost of new highway construction

• Reduces traffic delays

• Highway accidents avoided

• Grade crossing accidents avoided

• Improves grade crossing safety

• Energy and environmental benefits

• Increases lake front land use

• Creates jobs / stimulates economy

• Viaduct improvements

U.S. Freight Transportation

Pipe 17%

Rail40%

Truck 29%

Air 1%

Water13%

Ton-Miles

Preserves “footprint” forMidwest Highspeed Rail

Route nearly 100%freight - passenger separated

(Ashburn)

Direct Route into Union Stationfor Amtrak trains

through Champaign

Southwest Service shifts fromUnion Station to LaSalle St Station

National Impact

• According to a report issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the University of Illinois, improvements in Chicago’s rail network will benefit the rest of the Midwest and the rest of the country.

• Businesses across the country depend on rail to draw from distant suppliers and reach new markets with “just in time” precision.

• Rail traffic through Chicago touches 5 million jobs nationwide every year, $782 billion in output and $217 billion in wages.

• Every state in the nation depends on Chicago’s freight transportation infrastructure. After Illinois, the 4 states most economically dependant on Chicago’s rail are California, Texas, Ohio and New Jersey.

Local and Regional Impact

• Less Congestion, fewer delays - On average Chicago motorists will save 3,000 hours a day, hours currently spent at railroad crossings. New grade separations – overpasses and underpasses that separate motorists from trains - will eliminate the wait for motorists at 25 grade crossings.

• Increased safety – Since many of those grade crossings are Chicago “911”-critical crossings and vital to emergency services, public safety will increase significantly. Fewer grade crossings also mean reduced grade crossing accidents and injuries.

• Improve commuter rail service – 6 new rail-to-rail “fly-overs” – overpasses and underpasses that separate passenger trains from freight trains - will allow expanded, more reliable, and more efficient commuter service.

Local and Regional Impact

• Cleaner air – 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.

• A stronger economy – 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 $851 million in construction and job-related activity.

• Increased lakefront land use – The St. Charles Airline route rail traffic will be shifted to other rail corridors. Portions of the right-of-way may me 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.

Grade Separation

Projects

GradeSeparations

Projects

Rail over RailGrade

Separations

Englewood

74th Street

75th StreetChicago Ridge

CP Canal

Brighton Park

Next Steps

• Information dissemination and feedback

• Secure public funds from state and federal sources. Railroad industry funds already secured.

• Begin design engineering.

• IDOT contribution - $10M

• Railroad contribution - $2.5M

Private Sector Benefits

• Operational efficiencies

• Faster and more reliable service. 63% reduction in train delay across the network.

• Enhances capacity for growth

Why Create?

• IntermodalFreight Rail TruckingPassenger Rail Public TransportationCommuter Rail Private Vehicle

• Public Private PartnershipSix Class I RailroadsFederal GovernmentState of IllinoisCity of Chicago

• Economic Development

• JobsConstructionExpansion

• Safety

Eliminates 31 Crossings