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, Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Chicago, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Metra, Michigan Department of Transportation

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 (Engineer)

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

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

Latest Milestone

Issued Notice to Proceed to upgrade dormant platform for ADA compliance, increase station capacity and improve operational flexibility.

Funding Sources

Federal Railroad Administration discretionary grants, Amtrak Revenue, Federal Appropriations, Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Chicago, 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/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, North Central Service, SouthWest Service

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

Critical investments in rail infrastructure, facilities, and Chicago 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, Federal Railroad Administration, Illinois Department of Transportation, City of Chicago, Cook County, Metra, and Michigan Department of Transportation, 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 lag 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 bridge also experiences operational problems, particularly during the summer months. The project aims to minimize all these disruptions by exploring the best options to span the river more efficiently.

A two-prong program is planned:

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

Status: Initial planning and alternatives analysis are complete. An application was submitted for a FY24-25 National Railroad Partnership Program (NRP) grant to fund the State of Good Repair final design and construction activities, as well as Preliminary Engineering and National Environmental Policy Act review for the long-term replacement solution. In the absence of a decision on this application, Amtrak re-submitted the two-prong program for FY25-26 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program consideration.

Funding: All work to date funded by 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 design and construction of new maintenance facilities.

Status: Acquisition of additional yard property in progress.

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 and National Environmental Policy Act review were both completed in spring 2026. Final Design will begin in fall 2026.

Funding: Preliminary engineering is funded by Annual Grants. Final design is funded by FY23-24 CRISI Grant Program and local matches from Amtrak and Michigan Department of Transportation.

Several potential connections among elements of the Chicago metropolitan area’s rail network are being studied to determine the best routings to 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 the results of this study.

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

Funding Status: Funded by IDOT and Amtrak.

Chicago Union Station Enhancements

Station Modernization

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

Status: Preliminary Engineering and NEPA are complete. Final Design to begin Fall 2026.

Funding: Preliminary Engineering and Final Design are funded by Federal appropriations.

Conversion of the former Mail Platform into a passenger platform will provide ADA-compliant boarding, increase rail capacity, and enhance operational flexibility. Boarding will be streamlined 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. Additionally, the new platform will support future service expansion.

Status: Construction begins in late 2026.

Funding: Construction funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant, Federal Appropriations, and local match contributions from Amtrak, Cook County, and the City of Chicago.

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

Status: Preliminary Engineering initiated Fall 2025.

Funding: Preliminary Engineering/NEPA funded by FY22-23 FRA Federal State Partnership grant with local match contributions from Amtrak, Metra, Cook County, and the City of Chicago.

Program Benefits

Amtrak’s mission is to providesafe, high quality, 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, long-distance, and commuter trains, CHIP will unlock more transportation choices for passengers nationwide.

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

Fire and Life Safety: An upgraded ventilation system, improved egress capacity, wider platforms, and modernized station infrastructure will enhance fire and life safety conditions for passengers.  

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: A goal of the South Branch Bridge replacement project is to determine the feasibility of grade separating traffic at the 21st Street interlocking. Separating freight traffic from crossing directly in front of passenger trains would not only minimize the possibility of a collision, but also eliminate conflicting movements and enhance reliability.

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

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

Ventilation Improvements: Upgrading the ventilation systems in the north and south trainsheds will address improve indoor air quality on the platforms and in the station and provide thermal comfort in the station.

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. 

Local Economy: According to an independent economic impact study, improvements at Chicago Union Station will support billions of dollars in economic activity, sustain thousands of jobs, and help drive continued growth in downtown Chicago and across the region.  

Stay in Touch

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