Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP)

Program Status

The Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) is a collection of projects currently underway at different stages, from planning to construction.

Program Partners

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Metra, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

Prime Contractors

Station
Mail Platform Reactivation: WSP (Architect), HNTB (Construction Manager), General Contractor procurement underway

Station Modernization: A. Epstein and Sons, International/FXCollaborative (Architects)

Platform Expansion & Trainshed Ventilation: GFT ()

Infrastructure
Midwest Maintenance Campus: STV/Jacobs (Engineer/Architect)

Southwest Michigan Capacity Enhancement: VHB/Quandel (Engineer/Architect)

 

 

 

Funding Sources

FRA discretionary grants, Amtrak, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Cook County, Metra

Routes Served

Amtrak: Borealis, California Zephyr, Cardinal, City of New Orleans, Empire Builder, Floridian, Hiawatha, Illinois Service (Illinois Zephyr/Carl Sandburg, Illini/Saluki, Lincoln Service, and Missouri River Runner), Lake Shore Limited, Michigan Services (Pere Marquette, Blue Water, and Wolverine), Missouri River Runner, Southwest Chief, Texas Eagle 

Metra: BNSF, Heritage Corridor, Milwaukee District North, Milwaukee District West (MD-W), North Central Service (NCS), SouthWest Service (SWS)

The Chicago Hub Improvement Program (CHIP) will transform regional and intercity passenger rail in the Midwest. 

Critical investments in rail infrastructure, facilities, and Union Station will enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel times, improve safety and accessibility, connect job centers, and more. Led by Amtrak, in partnership with the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Cook County, Metra, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), CHIP represents a transformative investment into the future of rail in the Midwest and beyond.   

The Need for CHIP

Chicago Union Station is the third busiest rail terminal in the United States, serving 120,000 Amtrak and Metra passengers daily. Despite its importance, the station and surrounding rail infrastructure have not kept pace with increasing demand. This has led to significant bottlenecks, delays, and safety concerns that hinder the station and surrounding infrastructure from functioning efficiently and meeting future growth needs. CHIP addresses these challenges by investing in critical infrastructure and facilities that will improve operational efficiency, safety, accessibility, and the overall passenger experience.

HUB INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

South Branch Bridge

Built in 1914 and only ten feet above the Chicago River, the South Branch Bridge requires frequent lifts that disrupt Amtrak and Metra trains, as well as freight rail and barge traffic. The project aims to minimize these disruptions by exploring the best options to span the river more efficiently.

A two-prong program is planned:

(1) $25 million in State-of-Good-Repair (SOGR) projects that will extend the life of the bridge by another estimated ten years while (2) Amtrak begins design/engineering work on, and obtains funding for, a replacement span.

Status: Initial planning and alternatives analysis complete. An application was submitted for a FY24-25 NRP grant to fund the SOGR final design and construction activities and PE/NEPA for the long-term solution. If successful, SOGR final design and construction activities are anticipated to begin in summer 2026, with PE/NEPA work for the long-term solution starting in  fall 2026.

Funding: All work to date funded by Amtrak Annual Grants.

Amtrak’s current maintenance facility is over-capacity and unable to reliably service 21st century high-technology locomotives and passenger cars. This project will involve the construction of new maintenance facilities.

Status: Acquisition of additional yard property in progress.

Funding: Yard acquisition funded by Amtrak’s allocation of IIJA Supplemental Funding.

Restoring 19 miles of double-track between Niles and Glenwood Road in southwest Michigan will significantly improve reliability by enabling opposing trains to pass each other without stopping.

Status: Preliminary engineering was completed in spring 2026. Final Design will begin in fall 2026.

Funding: Preliminary engineering funded by Amtrak Annual Grants. Final design funded by FY23-24 USDOT FRA CRISI Grant Program and local matches from Amtrak and Michigan DOT.

Several potential connections among elements of the metropolitan area’s rail network will be studied to determine the best routings that will reduce travel time and improve reliability. The study is being undertaken as part of the FRA-led South-of-the-Lake alternatives analysis and will bring all potential connection projects to a similar level of conceptual design completion. A final roster of future connections will be created based on this study.

Status: Study now underway by GFT, with completion fall 2026.

Funding Status: Funded by IDOT and Amtrak.

Union Station Enhancements

Station Modernization

Upgrades to the concourse, mezzanine, and station entrances will improve passenger flow, accessibility, and safety. Beyond achieving a state-of-good-repair, the project will transform Union Station into a vibrant transportation hub that welcomes travelers and commuters to Chicago.

Status: Preliminary Engineering completed in April 2026.

Funding: Preliminary Engineering and Final Design funded by Amtrak appropriations.

Conversion of the former Mail Platform into a passenger platform will provide ADA-compliant boarding, increase rail capacity, and enhance operational flexibility. The new platform will support future service expansion and streamline boarding with passengers queuing in a climate-controlled lounge and boarding trains without ramps, stairs, or lifts. It will be the first level-boarding platform at Union Station.

Status: Construction begin in 2027.

Funding: Construction funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant, Amtrak appropriations, and $12.4 million in funds from Amtrak, Cook County, and the City of Chicago.

Four passenger platforms will be raised and widened to enable ADA-compliant boarding, with new emergency egress stairs added along their length. Ventilation upgrades in the north and south trainsheds will address longstanding air quality and life-safety concerns.

Status: Preliminary Engineering began Fall 2025.

Funding: Preliminary Engineering/NEPA funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant with $11 million in funds from Amtrak, Metra, Cook County, and the City of Chicago.

Program Benefits

Amtrak’s mission is to provide high quality, safe, on-time rail passenger service that exceeds customer expectations. CHIP will fulfill this mission by delivering the following benefits:

Service Expansion & Reliability

Reduced Travel Times and Improved On-Time Performance: By creating faster, more reliable access to Union Station for, state supported, and long-distance and commuter trains, CHIP will unlock more transportation choices for Americans nationwide.

Midwest Service Expansion: CHIP will accommodate growth of intercity passenger rail throughout the Midwest and ridership throughout the greater Chicago metropolitan region that extends across six Illinois counties and reaching Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Mode Shift: Shifting passengers from automobiles to rail will lead to significant safety improvements, including an estimated reduction in highway fatalities.

Wider Platforms: Wider platforms will provide accessible paths of travel, keep passengers away from platform edges, and improve flow in a part of the station that sees significant congestion.

Freight Rail Safety: The South Branch Bridge project could feature freight rail safety enhancements by grade separating traffic over 21st St. interlocking. Separating freight traffic from crossing directly in front of passenger trains will eliminate conflicting movements and enhance reliability.

Station modernization: Modernizing the Union Station Concourse will bring the facility into a state-of-good-repair while improving accessibility, safety, pedestrian flow, wayfinding, and station amenities.

Platform Enhancements: Widening platforms and introducing additional stairs and elevators on platforms will provide safer, more accessible routes to and from trains.

Ventilation Improvements: Upgrading the ventilation systems in the trainsheds will address longstanding air quality and life safety concerns.

Access to Jobs:  CHIP will improve regional connectivity in the Chicago metropolitan area and the Midwest, creating broader access to economic opportunities in Chicago, the largest job center in the Midwest and the nation’s largest multimodal transportation hub. 

Stay in Touch

For additional information about the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, email GovernmentAffairsCHI@amtrak.com.