Union Station to Receive $7 Million in Funding to Develop Infrastructure and Operating Strategies

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, April 15, 2015

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin stressed the importance of alleviating the congestion at Union Station, 500 E. Jackson Blvd., one of the nation's largest rail car hubs.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin stressed the importance of alleviating the congestion at Union Station, 500 E. Jackson Blvd., one of the nation's largest rail car hubs. Photo by Lee Edwards.

Chicago's Union Station, 500 E. Jackson Blvd., is getting a $7 million facelift.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy, Congressman Mike Quigley (Dist.- 5), Congressman Dan Lipinski (Dist. – 3), Amtrak and Metra announced the funding initiative which will help develop infrastructure improvements, train operating strategies and will enhance passenger rail service.

The funding includes $3 million from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that will be matched by $2 million from the State of Illinois, $1 million from Metra, and $1 million in tax increment financing (TIF) from the City of Chicago.

Chicago’s Union Station is the third-busiest railroad terminal in the United States, hosting over 300 trains per weekday carrying nearly 125,000 arriving and departing passengers.

“Union Station provides an essential link to jobs and economic opportunities for residents in neighborhoods throughout the City of Chicago and these resources will help us ensure that it serves our city more effectively for the future,” said Emanuel. “With the help of these federal resources, Union Station will be able to keep pace with rising demand on our railways to remain an economic engine for Chicago and keep our city on the move for many more decades to come.”

Emanuel is collaborating with federal, state, and local transportation agencies and stakeholders to acquire $500 million in funding to support a multi-year comprehensive remodeling project for Union Station. Emanuel estimated that Union Station could generate up to $7 billion in economic growth due to an influx of tourism, commuters, etc. creating a projected 17,200 jobs over a 10 year span.

photo

Photo by: Lee Edwards

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin stressed the importance of alleviating the congestion at Union Station, 500 E. Jackson Blvd., one of the nation's largest rail car hubs.

“Chicago’s Union Station serves as the gateway to Chicago for thousands of commuters and visitors from all around the state and nation every single day,” said Durbin. “I commend Mayor Emanuel and Amtrak for having the vision to reimagine a Union Station with improved air quality, pedestrian flow and retail space and look forward to working with them to make it a reality.”

The additional funding will support Amtrak’s $12 million commitment to renovate Union Station by conducting a Terminal Planning Study and create a Service Development Plan that will increase capacity at the station and on the railroads that lead to it.

"Like flying, when delays taxing to and from the runway are frustrating, on some Amtrak routes the delays are often in the miles closet to Chicago Union Station," said Derrick James, Amtrak Government Affairs. "This grant will go a long way toward fixing those problems, so investments in higher-speed Amtrak routes in Downstate Illinois, Northern Indiana and Michigan are not negated by trains crawling in -- or even backing out -- at Union Station."

Congressman Quigley alongside Congressman Lipinski worked to ensure unspent federal funds were appropriated to rail safety and improvement projects.

“By developing a 21st century infrastructure plan we can ease congestion on the tracks, take more cars off the streets, and improve air quality for our great city and our region,” said Quigley.

“I'm proud to announce that our region is getting some of those funds to develop a plan to ease congestion on our rail lines, benefitting passengers using Union Station and aiding economic growth by improving freight movement,” said Lipinski.

McCarthy announced that the EPA will be conducting a collaborative innovative study at Union Station in June to assess and improve the air quality surrounding the terminal.

“What this is going to do is allow us to continue with this partnership with Metra and with Amtrak to make sure we know what efforts that are underway are doing to improve air quality and what we continue to do next to address these issues in partnership,” said McCarthy.

For more information about Chicago’s Union Station visit http://www.chicagounionstation.com/.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

This Is Life