The Englewood Flyover separates Rock Island District Metra commuter trains from Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains traveling on the Norfolk Southern corridor and will relieve Metra riders of more than 7,500 annual passenger hours of delay.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo joined Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Sen. Dick Durbin and other federal, state and local officials for the dedication of the Englewood Flyover project.
The $133 million Flyover, which received $126 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program, will eliminate one of the nation’s largest rail chokepoints. As a result, close to 80 Metra trains per weekday will now travel above the Norfolk Southern mainline avoiding roughly 60 freight and Amtrak trains that use the mainline. The flyover will provide some relief for rail congestion in Chicago, but much work remains to be done to eliminate the issue completely.
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In addition to the intercity passenger benefits, the Englewood Flyover will also reduce freight and commuter delays, which will in turn keep more people and freight off the Chicago area’s congested highways. This congestion impacts all modes of transportation, forcing more trucks on to highways, limiting access to airports and reducing the capacity of railroads – limiting the regions effectiveness as a transportation hub.
About one-third of all rail traffic in the United States travels through the Chicago region and the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, a partnership between the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, freight railroads, Metra and Amtrak, seeks to remove and reduce train congestion throughout the Chicago area. The Englewood Flyover project is one of 70 projects that make up the CREATE program. About one-third of the projects within the program are completed and today funding only exists for half of the overall program.
The Englewood Flyover is a grade separation project south of Chicago’s Union Station that ease congestion one of the most delay-prone intersections in the entire Amtrak system. It separates Rock Island District Metra commuter trains from Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains traveling on the Norfolk Southern corridor and will relieve Metra riders of more than 7,500 annual passenger hours of delay.
The CAD facility enables NFI to complete full domestic production of heavy-duty transit vehicles, including zero-emission buses, in Winnipeg for the first time in 15 years.
The findings provide clear evidence that sustained Federal investment in public transit and passenger rail delivers significant returns for workers, communities, taxpayers, and the U.S. economy, APTA officials said.
On a recent episode of METROspectives, METRO Magazine’s Executive Editor Alex Roman sat down with Ana-Maria Tomlinson, Director of Strategic & Cross-Sector Programs at the CSA Group, to explore a bold initiative aimed at addressing those challenges: the development of a National Code for Transit and Passenger Rail Systems in Canada.
Over the next four years during the Spanberger Administration, DRPT will use the plan to prioritize funding for human service transportation projects and programs that reduce barriers, expand access, and promote equitable mobility, said department officials.
A new advisory group of current and former city leaders will collaborate on funding strategies, technology deployment, and best practices to modernize U.S. public transit systems.
The LIT Navigate Mentorship Program was launched as a structured, low-cost opportunity for active LIT members, focused on intentional growth, workforce development, mentorship, networking, and education.
Approved as part of WMATA’s Strategic Transformation Plan, the expanded program introduces new pricing and participation options that make it easier for colleges and universities to join and for more students, such as part-time, community college, and graduate students, to benefit from accessible transportation.
In this edition, we cover recent appointments and announcements at Savannah's CAT, California's VVTA, STV, and more, showcasing the individuals helping to shape the future of transportation.
