A $1.5 billion plan aims to rejuvenate the Chicago area's overloaded and outdated freight rail system which causes traffic backups at hundreds of railroad crossings.
The planned fixes rely heavily on federal funding and call for upgrading five rail corridors and creating connections on existing rail rights of way to allow more efficient train movements throughout northeast Illinois.Overpasses and underpasses for vehicles would be built at 25 locations in the city and suburbs...The overall effort aims to alleviate the worsening freight bottlenecks and provide surrounding communities relief from traffic backups, freight trains slowing Metra and Amtrak operations, and incessant train whistles, officials said.
Thanks to Jennifer Edwards
FULL STORY: Plan aims to unclog area's rail congestion
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