Upgrading existing assets to create a high-capacity passenger-dedicated mainline to and through Chicago
A concept of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association
Nothing beats being there in person
We depend upon smooth and convenient transportation to facilitate productive business meetings, work and entertainment trips, education and tourism.
But our infrastructure has failed to keep pace with changing demand. We waste too much time on long, tedious drives.
Fast, frequent and dependable trains will make travel easier, more affordable and more reliable. That means more of those critical meetings and face-to-face interactions will happen.
Policy makers throughout the Midwest recognize the value of trains. Planning work is underway for many passenger rail expansions throughout the region, but fragmented planning means that each pro-posal is evaluated independently, having to justify large infrastructure improvements on its own.
CrossRail would repurpose and upgrade existing assets to create a high-capacity passenger-dedicated mainline to and through Chicago. The line would allow Metra to operate frequent crosstown service and airport express trains, while providing access for Amtrak, South Shore and future high-speed trains from across the entire Midwest.
With CrossRail, individual projects can be seen as building blocks added to a central core. This unified approach would expedite planning and construction, reduce capital expenses, and expand the benefits more quickly.
It begins by expanding Union Station to facilitate transfers throughout the region, then modernizing and connecting two Metra lines with faster, more efficient electrified trains.
Coordination between multiple local, regional and state agencies will transform transportation for the entire region.
CrossRail will benefit the entire region, starting with:
• Electrified express trains linking O’Hare to Union Station, McCormick Place and Univ. of Chicago• Cross-town commuter trains linking the south suburbs to the northwest suburbs.• The foundation for high-speed rail and more than $13.8 billion in economic impacts.
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CrossRail ChicagoPotential Metra RERDirect Bene�tIndirect Bene�tProposed Expansions
Union Station
McCormick Place
O’Hare
The Core of an Integrated, Regional Network
CrossRail Chicago will improve all Amtrak, Metra and South Shore routes in the Midwest. It will be the pilot for Metra RER upgrades on other Metra routes.
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Metro-Area Travel
Millions of people use Metra and other mass transit to get downtown. But inconvenient connections make crosstown trips difficult. CrossRail Chicago will create countless new trip combinations and encourage thousands more passengers to ride trains and buses.
Employment and DevelopmentCook County suffers from a jobs and hous-ing mismatch resulting in high unemploy-ment and out-migration. CrossRail Chicago will offer an affordable and convenient way for south suburban residents to reach the job-rich suburbs along the I-90 corridor.
Transit Hub at O’Hare CrossRail Chicago creates the volume of transit passengers needed to bring about a much needed transformation of the O’Hare-area transit hub.
Better Buses CTA & Pace would be able to redeploy ex-isting assets to enhance connecting services, growing ridership for all three agencies.
Bypassing Congestion The Dan Ryan, Eisenhower and Kennedy Expressways are the Midwest’s most congested freeways. CrossRail Chicago is the most cost-effective method to add capacity in these corridors.
Potential integrated Metra RER & Pace Rapid Bus network
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An Economic Engine for the Region
The region’s economy depends upon visitors, especially from the Midwest.• In 2013, visitors to Cook County spent $21.1 billion, generating $1.5 billion in state and local taxes.• Nearly 75% of Chicago’s visitors come from 9 Midwestern states and most of them drive.• CrossRail will make all of the Chicago Metro Area more attractive for all Midwest visitors.
Growing O’HareCities and communities throughout the Midwest recognize that access to international markets through O’Hare is essential to their economic futures. With CrossRail Chicago, trains would feed more passengers to long-distance flights. Suburbanites could park at O’Hare to catch a train.
Supporting Convention and TourismA one-seat ride between O’Hare and McCormick Place, combined with links to other major convention centers, will make the Chicago-area convention industry more competitive.
The Foundation for High Speed RailA 2011 study by the Economic Development Research Group estimates that high-speed trains linking Chicago to eight major cities would generate an additional $13.8 billion annually in business sales for the Chicago Metropolitan Region. CrossRail Chicago provides the foundation for this network.
609,000 construction job-years
Annual Savings:• 760 million gallons of gas• $3 billion travel time cost• 3.3 million tons of CO2e
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#
2
43
9
7
11 13
5
10
15
14
126
8
Midwest Region Top Chicago Travel Origins
9 Midwest states
Domestic other
Canada
Mexico
Overseas
9 Midwest states
Domestic other
Canada
Mexico
Overseas
Drive
Train
Fly
Bus
Other
Fly
Drive
Bus
Train
Other
Drive
Train
Fly
Bus
Other
MIDWEST BUSINESS VISITORS MODE SPLIT 2013
MIDWEST LEISURE VISITORS MODE SPLIT 2013
$13.8 Billion Additional Sales in Chicago
Source: Choose Chicago
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Levels of Service
RER Local• A train every 10 – 15 minutes all day• All stops• Operate through the Loop• Lower fares
Airport & RER Express• A train every 15 – 30 minutes• Limited stops• Operate through the Loop• Medium fares in Commuter Class
Higher fares in First Class
Metra Suburban & South Shore• A train every 30 – 60 minutes• Skips most in-city stops,
timed transfers to locals• Terminate downtown• Medium fares
Amtrak and High Speed Rail• Varied schedules• Limited stops• Some operate through the Loop,
others timed to connect with express trains• Higher fares
Ventra IntegrationIntegrating fares across Metra, Pace, and the CTA using the Ventra card would make travel more convenient. Tap-on/Tap-off could be used instead of turnstiles.
Level BoardingPlatforms level with the car floor would improve access for wheelchair users, bike riders and those with luggage, while speeding boarding for all.
Convenient Bus ConnectionsMore frequent service and integrated schedules would make CrossRail a high-volume spine of a stronger, regionwide transit network.
O'HareRosemont
Schiller ParkBelmont Ave/Franklin Park
River GroveElmwood Park
Mont ClareMars
GalewoodHanson ParkGrand/CiceroWestern Ave.
Ashland AveUnion Station
Museums/McCormick PlBurnham Lakefront
39th Street47th Street
51st/53rd Street55th-56th-57th Street
59th St. Univ. of Chicago63rd Street75th Street
Chatham, 79th St.83rd Street87th Street91st Street
Chicago State Univ., 95th St.103rd Street107th Street
Pullman/111th StreetKensington, 115th Street
Altgeld GardensRiverdale
Ivanhoe147th Street
HarveyHazel Crest
CalumetHomewood
FlossmoorOlympia Fields
Lincoln Hwy., 211th St.Matteson
Richton ParkUniversity Park
Express
Local
Suburban
Am
trak & H
SR
The 78
South Chicago BranchM
illenium Station
To Blue Island
Millenium
Station
To Indiana
To Elgin
To Fox Lake
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O’Hare Airport
111th/PullmanPullman National Monument
To Indiana
River Grove
Union Station
Ashlan
d Ave
.
Millennium Station
Hyde Park
93rd St/South Chicago
Blue Island AltgeldGardens
16th Street Connector
Metra Electric Branch
Metra North Central
South Shore (NICTD)Metra Electric Main
Express StationLocal StationPotential Station
Chicago StateUniversity
FordChicagoAssembly
University of ChicagoMuseum of Science and IndustryObama Presidential Center
Van Buren St.
South WorksDevelopment
Museum CampusSoldier Field
Burnham Lakefront
University of Illinoisat Chicago
McCormick Place
Met
ra E
lect
ric
Mai
n L
ine
Metra ElectricBlue Island Branch
Metra ElectricSouth Chicago Branch
16th StreetConnector
Metra N
orth
Cen
tral
South Shore (NICTD)
To South Suburbs,Kankakee, Champaign-Urbana
Metra Milwaukee Distr ict West
Wes
t Loo
p/Fu
lton
Mar
ket
The 7
8
Level Boarding
Tap-on/Tap-off
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New O’Hare Transit Center
B-12
Phase two tunnels
13 highway crossings separated, including Harlem and Grand
Galewood/Elmwood Park RR Relocation
Two flyovers, like the new Englewood Flyover (pictured), are needed to increase ca-pacity and improve reliabilty. 6 Metra routes and 1 Amtrak route would be improved.
A-2 AND A-5 FLYOVERS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
ALTERNATE EXPRESS ROUTE
RER and HSR trains would use two new tracks between O’Hare and Union Station. Freight and Suburban trains would use two parallel tracks.
B-12
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
New track and electrification for faster speeds
McCormick Place
Hyde Park
Pullman
SOUTH SUBURBAN AIRPORT SITE
To Champaign
University Park
Union Station
A-5
A-2
OgilvieTransportation
Center
UnionStation LaSalle St.
Station
MilleniumParkStation
Van Buren St. Station
McCormickPlaceStation
11th St.Station
21st St. Bridge
Through Platforms Built
New Ramp to St. Charles Airline
New 16th Street Flyover
16th Street Connector
RER, Suburban and HSR trains would use Metra Electric District tracks rebuilt to modern standards. Freight trains would continue to use parallel tracks.
The St. Charles Airline would be rebuilt with two or three electrified tracks and direct access to Union Station.
METRA / SOUTH SHORE RR
AMTRAK
CN
ST. CHARLES AIRLINE
TRACK OWNERSHIP
MAP NOT TO SCALE.
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Phase 2 Tunnel
Extension
Regional
Hotel
Rental
O’Hare TransferStation
O’Hare International Airport
Airport express trains should access Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 in a new tunnel. Other trains could serve a new station added to the airport’s new parking garage, consolidated rental car facility and bus station which will host regional buses, hotel shuttle vans and Pace buses.
Illustrations: Midwest High Speed Rail Association concepts based on Department of Aviation drawings
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Clin
ton
Can
al
Congress
J ackson
Van Buren
sAdamss
Chi
cago
Riv
er
Blue line connection
Chicago Union Station300 South Riverside StationProposed Long TermConcourse Level Plan
Improved Passenger
Pedestrian Circulation& Lobbies
Amtrak Waiting Area
Vertical Circulation
New Vertical Circulation
Retail/Food
Train Operations
Building Cores
Metra Waiting Area
Existing Platforms
Ticketing
Of�ce Space
Vacant
N
Clin
ton
Can
al
Congress
J ackson
Van Buren
Adams
Chi
cago
Riv
er
Chicago Union Station222 South Riverside StationExisting Concourse Level Plan
Freight
Pedestrian Circulation& Lobbies
Amtrak Waiting Area
Vertical Circulation
New Vertical Circulation
Retail/Food
Train Operations
Building Cores
Metra Waiting Area
Passenger
Ticketing
Of�ce Space
Vacant
NUnion Station Track Reconfiguration
Amtrak, the Chicago Department of Transportation and Metra are preparing a reconfirguration of the concourse and platform areas that will facilitate through-running trains. It is important that future elec-trification be included in the designs.
UNUSABLE THROUGH TRACKS
NARROW PLATFORMS
POTENTIAL CONCOURSE ABOVE
THROUGH PLATFORMS
OPEN CONCOURSE
TODAY PROPOSED
CONGESTED CONCOURSE
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Order of Magnitude Capital Costs
CrossRail is very phaseable. It is a collection of many projects which have independent utility. Projects can be grouped by segment, though there are individual projects within each segment as well.Union Station expansion, a new station at O’Hare, the A-2 Flyover and the 16th Street Connector are the most urgent.
O’Hare Station $50,000,000
O’Hare – B12 $345,000,000
• Purchase 5 miles of ROW • Replace 3 stations
• Construct 2 electrified mainline tracks • Separate 1 highway crossing
B12 – Union Station/Ogilvie $1,534,000,000
• Reconstruct 3 existing mainline tracks and add fourth • Replace 8 stations
• Electrify 2 mainline tracks • Separate 13 highway crossings
• A-5 Flyover
A2 Flyover — impacts 7 Metra routes $175,000,000
O’Hare — West Loop Total $2,104,000,000
Union Station through tracks $200,000,000
• Total need for Union Station expansion = $500,000,000
16th Street Connector — Needed for St. Louis 110 project $825,000,000
• New connections to St. Charles Airline • Electrify 2 tracks
• 16th Street Flyover • Replace 16 bridges
McCormick Place/Michael Reese Station complex $50,000,000
16th Street Connector Total $875,000,000
Metra Electric Upgrades $725,000,000
• Reconstruct existing mainline tracks • Upgrade stations
• Modernize electrification and signaling
Total $3,904,000,000
These estimates were conducted by MHSRA staff for discussion purposes only. Revised 5/12/2016. Rolling stock and fare collection systems assumed to be financed by operators.
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Estimated Annual Ridership
Many existing and proposed routes will be impacted by CrossRail. Each route/segment has been studied separately, which fails to provide a clear picture of the power of a coordinated system. If developed togeth-er, these projects will generate more ridership, revenue and benefits than they can independently.The estimates are offered only to illustrate the potential impact of CrossRail. A more detailed analysis is needed.
2014 PotentialDirect Impacts
Airport Express1 0 2,000,000Metra crosstown traffic2 0 1,900,000Metra Electric3 9,416,000 10,357,600Metra Milwaukee North3 7,237,000 7,960,700Metra Milwaukee West3 6,946,000 7,640,600Metra North Central3 1,817,000 1,998,700Metra Rock Island3 8,544,000 9,398,400Metra UP West3 8,423,000 9,265,300NICTD South Shore4 3,614,000 3,975,400Amtrak Champaign/Carbondale5
315,000 346,500
Amtrak St. Louis6 634,000 1,707,000Amtrak Milwaukee7 800,000 4,532,000Amtrak MI routes8 769,349 3,151,411
48,515,349 64,233,611
2014 PotentialExtensions
O’Hare – Elgin9 0 4,704,000Elgin – Rockford10 0 1,410,000Champaign extension11 0 2,169,002Metra Southeast12 0 5,236,000NICTD West Lake 13 0 1,568,000Amtrak Indianapolis/Cincinnati14
37,000 1,707,000
Indirect Impacts
Metra UP North3 9,328,000 10,260,800Metra UP Northwest3 11,609,000 12,769,900
High Speed Rail
Milwaukee/Madison/ St. Paul15
0 15,884,000
Toledo/Detroit/Cleveland15
0 12,260,000
Champaign/Springfield/St. Louis15
0 7,904,000
Indianapolis/Cincinnati15 0 7,226,000
Sources: 1. Express Airport Train Service Business Plan, September 2006.
2. MHSRA
3. Metra calendar 2014, increased 10% for potential growth
4. APTA Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter and End-of-Year 2014
5. Amtrak FY2014, increased 10% for potential growth
6. Amtrak FY2014, CHI-STL 2011 Tier I EIS
7. Amtrak FY2014, Midwest HSR Network Benefits Study 2012
8. Amtrak FY2014, CHI-DET 2014 draft Tier I EIS +10% increase for branches
9. STAR Alternative Analysis, June 2012.
10. Rockford – O’Hare alternative corridor study, 2010 draft
11. Midwest HSR Network Benefits Study 2012
12. Southeast Service Alternatives Analysis 2011, weekday × 280
13. Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District
14. Amtrak FY2014, comparable to Chicago – St. Louis
15. Midwest HSR Network Benefits Study 2012, may double count from above
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Revenue Sources
Coordinating
Agency
Funding
Benefits
Option B: Public Private Patnership Structure
Option A: Coordinating Agency Structure
Special Purpose Entity
Obtains financing
Acquires needed RR assets
Manages construction
Contracts for infrastruc-ture operation and maintenance
Develops approved planned development
Track access fees
State funds
Federal funds
METRAIDOT CN
Increased real estate taxes
Increased tourism
More tradeshows
Southside redevelopment
Improved access to jobs
New Southside tran-sit service
Development Rights
Airport Express operating surplus
Increased Passenger fares
Federal & State Trackage Fees Fares
Coordinating Agency
Chicago Aviation AmtrakChicago DOT
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The historic Denver Union Station reopened in July 2014 using a successful Public-Private Partnership (P3). The station and the surrounding 19.5 acres is the hub of Denver’s growing FasTracks commuter rail network as well as its Regional and Express bus networks.
Relevant Nationwide Cases• All Aboard Florida: New Miami – Orlando passenger route financed with real estate development and passen-
ger fares.• Denver Eagle P3: Precedent setting P3 financing 23 mile airport line opened in Spring 2016.• Detroit M1: Non-profit organization formed in 2007 to lead design, construction and operation of 3.3 mile
circulating streetcar.• Portland TriMet Airport Max: Real estate development financed more than 40% of 5.5 mile light rail exten-
sion to airport.• Toronto Union Pearson Express: Metrolinx, Toronto’s regional transit authority, created a subsidiary to con-
struct and operate a 23-mile long airport train using tracks shared by GO commuter trains and freight trains.
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Join us at JustBuildIt.org1 Send a letter at CrossRailChicago.org2
Meet with your elected officials3
You Can Help
Next Steps
We would like Metra to:• Adopt Ventra card tap-on/tap-off on the Electric District• Allow fare transfers between the Electric District and CTA / Pace• Dramatically increase frequencies on the Electric and North Central routes
We would like City of Chicago to:• Choose the “Metra” solution for airport express• Partner with Metra to link and upgrade Electric and North Central routes
We would like Cook County to:• Create overall plan for CrossRail• Coordinate the program
We would like State of Illinois to:• Develop a statewide plan for an integrated passenger rail and bus network• Create a Railroad Infrastructure Fund to pay for this and other critical needs
Midwest High Speed Rail Association
Since 1993, the Midwest High Speed Rail Association has worked with federal, regional, state and local agencies, the railroad industry, and fellow advocacy groups to cultivate the political will and public support needed to make fast, frequent and dependable trains a reality.
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Midwest High Speed Rail AssociationRECONNECTING THE REGION
4765 N Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625 773.334.6758 | MidwestHSR.org