Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot recently announced an $850 million investment into Chicago's train system after a letter was sent to the secretary of transportation on obtaining funds to support infrastructure improvements.
Many mayors from Illinois and mayors from Midwest states signed the letter spearheaded by Lightfoot. The funds will go toward redeveloping and improving Chicago's Union Station and its connections and lines.
According to a press release from Lightfoot’s office, the mayor joined 56 regional mayors in a commitment to invest $850 million into Chicago-based passenger rail trains. A pending Amtrak application will have the capacity to improve Union Station and Chicago’s train system city-wide. Lightfoot sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Amit Bose to support the Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP).
"I am proud to join dozens of regional mayors in support of this transformative project for transportation in the Midwest," Lightfoot said in the press release. "This investment in improved train services will give Chicago residents and visitors convenient, safe and modernized travel options while reducing our carbon footprint. It will also lay the foundation for a more equitable transportation network, giving Illinois residents from all walks of life access to the amenities and opportunities found in our great city and region."
The press release states the goal is to have more passenger trains reach Chicago’s Union Station from the south, including new routes, times and increased frequencies. CHIP will plan better connections between Union Station and O’Hare Airport, increase smooth connections and modernize Union Station.
“It’s no surprise that mayors from so many other cities support investment in better rail infrastructure in Chicago, because our city serves as the hub for most of North America,” Rick Harnish, executive director of the Chicago-based High Speed Rail Alliance said, according to the press release. “Our region has wonderful colleges, thriving towns and cities, innovative businesses and great people. The missing link is a network of fast, safe and affordable trains connecting them. CHIP would provide a first, foundational step toward implementing this vision.”
According to the press release, mayors from Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Ohio signed the letter along with mayors from cities in Illinois. The letter stemmed from a July meeting with Lightfoot, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Jesus Garcia, Secretary Omer Osman of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Metra’s CEO Jim Lewinski, Jennifer Killen, the head of Cook County’s Department of Transportation and Highways and Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner.