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CREATE Partners Announce Track Work To
Speed Freight on SE Side |
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Track and signal work began over the
Easter weekend to speed up the movement
of freight trains going from the Belt
Railway System of Chicago (BRC) to the
Norfolk Southern (NS) mainline tracks
that run along 95th St. and the Chicago
Skyway/Interstate-90.
The work involves upgrading and
modernizing the tracks and signal system
over a half-mile stretch extending from
101st St. and Commercial Ave. The
improvements will increase the speed at
which trains can operate in the area
from 6 mph to
20 mph. Work should be completed by the
first of May.
"This is the latest CREATE project that
will not only help ease congestion and
benefit air quality, but will help
businesses receive their supplies and
goods in a more timely manner," said
CDOT Commissioner Thomas G. Byrne. |
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Two Helmets to Hardhats Veterans
Workshops Conducted |
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The second CREATE/Helmet to Hardhats
Veterans Workshop on opportunities for
railroad employment was held on April 4
at the Westside Technical Institute in
Chicago. The event was hosted by the
Chicago Teamsters. Representatives from
various state agencies, railroad
companies and other organizations were
in attendance to support jobs for
Illinois veterans.
CSX Transportation delivered a
presentation on the types of railroad
jobs available and provided support on
applying for local railroad jobs online.
Guest speakers included Congressman
Peter Roskam, Secretary of State Jesse
White, CSX Transportation Vice President
Tom Livingston, and International
Brotherhood of Teamsters Vice President
Cheryl Johnson.
At a previous CREATE/Helmets to Hardhats
event on February 15, Union Pacific
provided similar training to veterans.
Approximately 300 veterans attended the
two events.
Without rail improvements provided by
CREATE, the region could lose out on
17,000 jobs and $2 billion annually in
economic growth. The CREATE
improvements will create jobs that
Illinois veterans are well suited for
based on their prior military
experience. New employees are needed by
the railroads in increasing numbers. By
2014 35 percent of all U.S. railroad
employees will be eligible to retire. |
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DID YOU KNOW? |
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Chicago area rail infrastructure covers
about 16,000 acres - twice the size of
O'Hare International Airport.
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Click here to go back |
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Doing Business with CREATE |
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Bid solicitations are being posted to
the CREATE website. To receive
notification when new information is
posted, send an email to
info@createprogram.org
with "Procurement Notification" in the
subject line. For more information, go
to
Doing Business with CREATE.
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CREATE Employment |
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For information on local job
opportunities within the rail industry,
go to
CREATE Employment. |
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CREATE Partners |
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Amtrak
BNSF
Belt Railway Company of Chicago
Canadian Pacific
CN
Chicago DOT
CSX
Illinois DOT
Indiana Harbor Belt
Metra
Norfolk Southern
Union Pacific
USDOT |
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