Our Projects

Beltway Corridor

Canadian Pacific Crossover Upgrades

Topline Community Benefits

Increased freight and passenger rail reliability and speeds for 70 lines.

Significant delay reductions for regional commuter rail and proximate grade crossing users.

Modern digital infrastructure upgrades.

Project Funding Needs

Fully funded and complete

Project Location Map

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Municipality

Franklin Park

Project Area

North Limit	Franklin St.
South Limit	Grand Ave.
East Limit	Des Plaines River Rd.
West Limit	Mannheim Rd.

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Project Overview & Impact

Prior to this project’s completion, freight trains had to pass through the Bensenville Yard to access IHB main line track. With this improvement, the 12 daily freight trains are able to bypass the Canadian Pacific Railroad Bensenville Yard on existing Metra tracks. This project reduces the number of freight trains within the yard and reduce delays at nearby at-grade crossings. The potential for delay to Metra trains due to conflict with slow moving freight trains entering the yard is reduced.

This project included the installation of five crossovers and associated signaling on the Metra tracks serving the Metra Milwaukee District West Line and Canadian Pacific. As well as the installation of another crossover between the IHB and CN tracks.

Project Benefits

Communities

Improved rail systems provide enhanced reliability and less congestion for rail operators, residents, and passengers. The improvements to the system also benefit the associated grade crossings.

Nearby Chicago, IL Community Areas: Franklin Park

Communities along the Metra District West Line

Jobs & Economics

Increasing intermodal freight movement and more seamless passenger rail movement enables higher throughput of goods and commuters.

Environmental

Less frequent train delays improve local air quality through a reduction in idling locomotives and vehicles at grade crossings.

Passenger Rail Services

The project has eliminated the previously existing commuter and freight train delays that use this portion of the Milwaukee District West line. Approx. 58 Metra trains experience benefits in conjunction with improved flexibility at the Franklin Park Station.

Get Involved

If your organization is interested in working with the CREATE Program, please refer to our Bid Advertisements and RFP page to apply for active projects.

We also encourage you to attend our Get On Board: Business-to-Business networking events, Union Outreach events, and other relevant events to learn more about the Program and build connections. Please see our Events page for the latest information on upcoming events.

CREATE partners also fund on-the-job training on construction projects for entry-level positions who have graduated from IDOT’s Highway Construction Careers Training Program (HCCTP). For more information on the program, please click here to learn more.

Project Status

Phase I	Completed

Phase II	Completed

Phase III	Completed

Project Status Definitions:
– Phase I: Environmental & Preliminary Engineering
– Phase II: Final Design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates)
– Phase III: Construction

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