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HISTORY
Chicago: Rail Capital of the World and America's
Transportation Center
For almost 150 years, Chicago has been the nation's rail hub and
the world's rail capital. The growth of railroads in the 1800s made
the city America's crossroads.
Chicago's freight rail network helped make the U.S. economy the
strongest in the world. Indeed, the notions of Chicago as the City
That Works and City of the Big Shoulders are inseparable
from that as a city of railroads.
Chicago today remains the busiest rail gateway in the United States,
accounting for one-third of the nation's freight rail traffic. Each
day, about 1,200 trains pass through the region, powering the Illinois
economy with:
- More than 38,000 rail-related jobs, accounting for more than
$1.7 billion in annual wages
- $22 billion in annual economic value to the region's manufacturers
and businesses
As the region has grown, so have traffic jams, commuter delays
and rail shipping times due to the convergence of automobiles and
trucks with passenger and freight trains. And now the nation's transportation
center faces its own crossroads.
A Growing Demand For Rail Service
Over the next 20 years, demand for freight rail service in Chicago
is expected to nearly double. That means more jobs for Illinois
workers and increased economic opportunity for Illinois businesses'
but only if we can meet the growing need for rail service.
If rail capacity and infrastructure issues are not addressed,
studies show the Chicago region will miss out on 17,000 jobs and
$2 billion in annual economic production within two decades.
Something must be done now to protect Illinois jobs, improve our
quality of life and ensure businesses here and throughout the nation
continue to have access to efficient, affordable rail shipping services. |
About CREATE
“"Chicago is in danger of becoming
a bottleneck in the nation's transportation system, and that would
have serious consequences –- not just for this city, but for
the entire nation."
- Chicago
Mayor Richard M. Daley |
