Our Projects
Rock Island Connection (75th Street Corridor Improvement Project)
Topline Community Benefits
As part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (75th St. CIP), the Rock Island Connection will increase capacity for the Metra SouthWest Service while freeing capacity at Union Station for future increased Amtrak service.
Enhance neighborhood stability through street design improvements, noise mitigation tactics, accessibility improvements, new lighting and drainage.
Reduce motorist, passenger rail, and freight rail delays.
Project Funding Needs
Project Location Map
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Municipality
Chicago
Project Area
| North Limit | 69th St |
|---|---|
| South Limit | 100th St. |
| East Limit | Dan Ryan Expressway I-90/94 |
| West Limit | Central Park Ave. |
Project Overview & Impact
This project will eliminate the most congested rail chokepoint in the Chicago Terminal, Belt Junction, where 30 Metra and 90 freight trains per day cross each other’s paths. The rail-rail flyover at 75th Street will eliminate conflict between 30 SouthWest Service Metra trains and 35 freight trains operating on the Western Avenue Corridor (CSX). The construction of an additional main line for Metra operation and the rail-rail flyover connection will reduce congestion and freight conflicts and will connect Metra’s SouthWest Service with the existing Rock Island District tracks, increasing capacity and improving reliability.
This project will allow SouthWest Service trains access to LaSalle Street Station instead of Union Station, which increases capacity for the SouthWest Service while also freeing capacity at Union Station for increased Amtrak service and proposed high-speed rail. This project also is expected to improve Amtrak Cardinal service performance by eliminating freight conflicts in the vicinity of 80th Street. The road-rail grade crossing separation at 71st Street will reduce neighborhood traffic delay and improve safety.
Alternatives are being developed to address conflicts between CSX, BRC, UP, NS and Metra. The approach will consider reconfiguring the Belt Railway of Chicago (BRC) main tracks between the Dan Ryan Expressway and Belt Junction, where four freight railroads conflict with each other and Metra’s SouthWest Service operations (EW2). The project will consider constructing a second main track for Metra’s SouthWest Service operations from near Wrightwood Station to Western Avenue (P2). The project will consider reconfiguring and building a third BRC main track, and constructing a flyover to connect the Metra SouthWest Service to the Rock Island Line in the vicinity of 74th and Normal and 75th and Parnell (EW2 and P2). This project will consider constructing a bridge that significantly reduces conflicts between CSX and BRC, Metra and NS (P3). The project will also consider constructing a road-rail grade separation of 71st St. and the CSX freight line (GS19). Associated signals, tracks, crossovers, and bridge work are included in the project. See the project website for more information at: https://www.75thcip.org/
Project Benefits
CommunitiesThe Rock Island Connection will have project benefits within 1/4 mile of the railroad work, including sidewalk and curb repairs, street repaving, tree planting, and bus stop and pedestrian safety improvements. The project will also repair streets under viaducts which include improved ADA curb ramps, drainage, and lighting.
Chicago, IL Community Areas: Auburn Gresham, Chatham, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Ashburn, Gresham, Chicago Lawn, West Englewood, Roseland, and Washington Heights
Communities along the Metra SouthWest Service Line in Cook County and Will County.
Jobs & EconomicsAs part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project (CIP), this project will contribute heavily to the local economy and create good-paying jobs within the project area. For example, nine Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) are contracted to work on the Rock Island Connection.
EnvironmentalEnvironmental benefits include:
- Air quality – Reduced train idling in the project vicinity will result in localized air quality improvements.
- Noise mitigation – Noise barriers will be installed in strategic locations.
- Neighborhood Design – Aesthetic improvements will be developed to improve sidewalks etc.
- Stormwater Management – Viaduct improvements will incorporate stormwater drainage enhancements that will contribute to the reduction of residential basement flooding in the project area.
Passenger Rail ServicesThis project will build a flyover structure to connect the Metra SouthWest Service mainline tracks to the Rock Island Line, eliminating conflicts between Metra and BRC trains at Belt Junction and allowing Metra SWS trains to terminate at LaSalle Street Station. This will augment existing passenger rail capacity (in the near- and long-term), reduce train delays, and reduce delays for other roadway motorists.
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 | Underway |
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| Phase III | Upcoming |
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Project Status Definitions:
– Phase I: Environmental & Preliminary Engineering
– Phase II: Final Design (Plans, Specifications & Estimates)
– Phase III: Construction
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