Chicago CREATE Partnership

The long-standing partnership between the City of Chicago, State of Illinois and major railroads is set to launch system improvements.

Chicago is the crossroads of the U.S./Canadian rail systems, although "crossroads" is hardly the word for the snarl of intersecting rail lines wrapped around and through the city. The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program (CREATE) has been in place since 2000 to streamline the Chicago rail network. 

The CREATE project's vision is to: 

• Reduce rail and auto traffic congestion
• Improve passenger rail service
• Enhance public safety
• Promote economic development
• Create jobs 
• Improve air quality
• Reduce noise from idling or slow-moving trains.

The railroads participating in the CREATE program include the Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSXT, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Metra (commuter rail) and Amtrak (intercity rail).

CREATE projects include 47 railroad improvement projects (track, signal and switches upgrades) and six projects to separate commuter (Metra) tracks from freight lines. Another 25 projects will create highway-rail separations at rail crossings.

Get project updates and see progress at http://www.createprogram.org/