Agreement reached for CREATE program’s Englewood Flyover

Norfolk Southern, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Amtrak have reached a development agreement that will bring the Federal Railroad Administration one step closer to obligating $133 million in funding for the Englewood Flyover. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said this agreement will move the project forward and help prevent any future attempts by House Republicans to rescind this funding that was appropriated through the Recovery Act. "Earlier this year, I joined with my colleagues to stop an attempt by the House Republicans to rescind nearly $400 million in Illinois transportation funding, $133 million for the Englewood Flyover project," said Durbin. "We were successful then, but the House threat remains. Just last week, House Republicans passed an appropriations bill out of committee that included a provision to rescind unobligated high-speed rail funds. The sooner we can obligate the funds, the sooner we can begin putting people to work and moving these important projects forward while creating the good paying jobs we desperately need in Illinois." The Englewood Flyover project will create an estimated 1,450 jobs in Chicago and is the linchpin for the CREATE rail modernization program. CREATE will ensure that the Chicago region is prepared to handle future increases in rail traffic. It will reduce congestion with track, switch and signal upgrades and by constructing overpasses and underpasses to end conflicts at both rail-rail and highway-rail crossings. It will also limit locomotive engine idling and improve air quality. Earlier this year, Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, urging him to obligate as soon as possible nearly $400 million in Illinois transportation funding. This funding would have kept eight Illinois projects safe from rescission under the House Republican's 2011 Budget plan.