The Biden-Harris Administration has allocated over $1.4 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 70 rail improvement projects across 35 states and Washington, D.C. These projects, selected through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, aim to enhance rail safety, strengthen supply chains, and expand passenger rail service. The investments will support track improvements, bridge rehabilitations, upgrades on routes carrying hazardous materials, and other infrastructure enhancements. The projects will benefit rural communities and address long-standing rail needs, contributing to safer and more efficient rail operations across the country.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has announced a deal with Metra and the Union Pacific Railroad to restore passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago by late 2027. The trip from Rockford to Chicago is expected to take about 95 minutes on a nonstop express train. Roundtrip trains will operate twice a day, and ticket prices are yet to be determined. New train stations will be built in Belvidere and Rockford, and extensive improvements to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks will be funded by $275 million from the Rebuild Illinois capital plan.
Metra, in partnership with the Union Pacific Railroad, will extend the Milwaukee District West Line to provide passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago for the first time in 40 years. The project, expected to begin in 2027, will include stops in Huntley and Belvidere and is estimated to cost $275 million. The service aims to strengthen northern Illinois by creating jobs, improving connectivity, reducing pollution and traffic congestion, and spurring economic development. Travel time between Chicago and Rockford is projected to be around two hours, with two round-trips per day.
Metra and Union Pacific have reached an agreement to bring passenger rail service back to Rockford, Illinois by late 2027. The service will include stops in Belvidere, Huntley, and Elgin, with a trip from Rockford to Chicago taking approximately 95 minutes. The project, funded by $275 million in Rebuild Illinois capital improvement funds, will involve extensive improvements to Union Pacific-owned tracks. Metra was chosen over Amtrak for the service, and officials believe the new rail service will have a positive economic impact on the region.
