CREATE Benefits
Stronger Regional and National Economies
Regionally and nationally, CREATE will spark job growth and help businesses become more efficient and competitive.
- Investment in the rail projects in CREATE is estimated to provide an annual economic benefit of $3.6 billion nationally due to greater efficiency of freight rail. About 75 percent of benefits are estimated to accrue to states outside of the Midwest, demonstrating the national significance of CREATE.
- If the CREATE rail projects are not built and the Chicago rail hub reaches capacity (estimated in 2017 without CREATE)
- 172,000 job years would not be created from 2018-2040
- $1 to $7 billion would be lost in economic production annually
A Better Quality of Life for Northeastern Illinois
Regionally, CREATE will enhance passenger rail service, reduce motorist delays, increase public safety, improve air quality, create and retain jobs, and strengthen economic competitiveness.
- New overpasses, underpasses and other improvements will reduce the time Chicago-area motorists spend waiting at railroad crossings by thousands of hours a day.
- Potential crashes and injuries at 25 existing grade crossings will be eliminated.
- Police and fire emergency vehicle routes will be improved in neighborhoods with new overpasses or underpasses of rail lines.
- Travel times for commuters on many Metra lines will improve and schedules will become more reliable.
- Capacity on Metra's SouthWest and Heritage lines will increase. CREATE also will permit the increased use of LaSalle Street Station, freeing capacity at Union Station.
- Emissions from cars, trucks and locomotives will be greatly reduced, improving air quality.
- Noise from idling or slow-moving trains will be reduced in residential neighborhoods.
CREATE Program Benefits Fact Sheets