Preliminary Engineering/NEPA, Public Outreach and Final Design
August 2022: FY21 FSP-SOGR awards a portion of Final Design for the Station Modernization project.
December 2023: FY 22-23 FSP awards PE/NEPA funding for Platform Expansions and Ventilation project and construction funding for the Reactivation of Dormant Platform project.
2023- 2027: Union Station Enhancements preliminary engineering activities.
2025: Union Station Enhancements construction activities expected to begin.
2024 – 2026: Infrastructure Upgrades feasibility and preliminary engineering activities.
2027: Infrastructure Upgrades construction activities expected to begin.
FY23-24 CRISI grant ($8,384,000) awarded for Final Design for the Southwest Michigan Capacity Enhancement
$34 million in FY 24 funding appropriated towards Final Design of the Station Modernization project.
$49.6 million in FY 22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership (FSP) funding awarded to Amtrak for construction for the reactivation of the dormant platform, part of the Platform Expansions project.
$44 million in FY 22-23 FRA FSP funding awarded to Amtrak for PE/NEPA for Ventilation and Platform Expansions.
Platform & Ventilation Improvements Designer of Record contract award anticipated in Spring 2025.
Platform Reactivation construction contract award anticipated in Fall 2025.
Design engineering for CHIP Infrastructure Upgrades concludes in 2026, with construction starting 2027.
U.S. DOT 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)
Station
Mail Platform Reactivation: WSP (Designer of Record), HNTB (PM-CM)
Station Modernization: A. Epstein and Sons, International (Designer of Record), FXCollaborative (Design Architect)
Platform Expansion & Trainshed Ventilation: TBA
Infrastructure
New Chicago Maintenance Yard Facilities: STV/Jacobs (PE/NEPA)
Michigan Capacity Enhancement (Niles-Glenwood Double Track): VHB/Quandel (PE/NEPA)
IIJA FRA discretionary grants, Amtrak, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Cook County, Metra
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))
Critical investments in rail infrastructure, facilities, and Union Station will enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel times, improve safety, connect job centers, and more. Led by Amtrak, in partnership with 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.
Chicago Union Station is the third busiest rail terminal in the United States, serving 120,000 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 improving operational efficiency, safety, and the overall passenger experience.
Built in 1914 and only ten feet above the Chicago River, the South Branch Viaduct requires frequent lifts, disrupting Amtrak, Metra commuter 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.
Status: Feasibility Study underway and expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
Amtrak with joint applicant CDOT submitted an application for PE/NEPA and state of good repair work under the FY 24 FSP Grant Program for $176M federal and a $44M match from IDOT, Chicago DOT and Amtrak to a total of $220M.
Funding: Feasibility study funded by Amtrak appropriations.
Amtrak’s current maintenance facility is over-capacity and unable to support future growth. This project will assess current and potential future properties to determine the best layout for train storage and maintenance
Status: Assessment of current and potential future yard properties underway and expected to be complete by spring 2025.
Amtrak with joint applicant IDOT submitted an application for PE/NEPA and Acquisition under the FY 24 FSP Grant Program for $176M federal and a $44M match from IDOT, Chicago DOT and Amtrak to a total of $220M.
Funding: Assessment funded by Amtrak appropriations.
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 underway and expected to be complete by mid-2025.
Funding: Preliminary engineering funded by Amtrak appropriations. Final design funded by FY23-24 USDOT FRA CRISI Grant Program.
Upgrades to the concourse, mezzanine, and entrance pavilions will enhance passenger flow, accessibility, and safety. The project transforms Union Station into a vibrant transportation hub that graciously welcomes travelers, commuters, and residents.
Status: Preliminary engineering underway. Final design is anticipated to begin in 2025.
Amtrak with joint applicant IDOT submitted an application for Final Design under the FY 24 FSP Grant Program for $32M federal and an $8M match from IDOT, CDOT, Metra and Amtrak to a total of $40M.
Funding: Final Design funded in part by a $3 million FY21 FRA Federal-State Partnership State of Good Repair grant and Amtrak appropriations, with $3 million in matching funds from Amtrak, Metra, IDOT and Cook County. Remaining portion of Final Design funded by Amtrak appropriations.
The reactivation of a dormant platform will increase station capacity, improve accessibility with level boarding, and support future rail service expansion. This project will also create interim capacity, enabling the reconstruction of additional platforms.
Status: Final design nearly complete. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2025.
Funding: Construction funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant and Amtrak’s appropriations, with $12.4 million in matching funds from Amtrak, Cook County, and the City of Chicago
The expansion of four platforms and upgrading the ventilation system will address longstanding air quality, and life safety, and accessibility concerns.
Status: Preliminary engineering anticipated to begin in 2025.
Amtrak with joint applicant IDOT submitted an application for Final Design under the FY 24 FSP Grant Program for $128M federal and a $32M match from IDOT, Metra and Amtrak to a total of $160M.
Funding: Preliminary engineering/NEPA funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant with $11 million in matching funds from Amtrak, Metra, Cook County, and the City of Chicago minimize these disruptions by exploring the best options to span the river more efficiently.
Amtrak’s mission is to provide efficient and effective intercity passenger rail mobility consisting of high-quality service that is trip-time competitive with other travel options. CHIP will fulfill this mission by delivering the following benefits:
Reduced Travel Times and Improved On-Time Performance: By creating faster, more reliable access to Union Station for commuter, state supported and long distance trains, CHIP will unlock more transportation choice for Americans nationwide.
Midwest Service Expansion: CHIP will enable the growth of rail services across the Midwest and be a key component of achieving Amtrak’s goal of doubling ridership by 2040.
Concourse improvement benefits: Modernizing the CUS Concourse to improve capacity, accessibility, safety, and circulation to accommodate the anticipated growth of both intercity and commuter ridership.
Platform expansion benefit: Widening and introducing additional stairs, escalators, and elevators on platforms to provide safer, more accessible routes to and from trains.
Increased Safety: Shifting passengers from automobiles and buses to rail will lead to significant safety improvements, including an estimated reduction in highway fatalities.
Wider Platforms: Union Station platform enhancements part of CHIP will widen platforms, keeping passengers away from platform edges and improving flow in a part of the station that sees the most passenger traffic.
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.
Access to Jobs: CHIP will improve regional connectivity in the Chicago metro 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.
For additional information about the Chicago Hub Improvement Program, email [email protected].
