IL SR1746

Chicago region serves as a national rail hub, with six of seven major Class I railroads transporting approximately 25% of all U.S. freight rail traffic and 44% of all U.S. intermodal container units, totaling more than 1.3 million loaded rail cars annually.

Metra operates 691 weekday trains stopping at 241 stations on 11 rail lines, while Amtrak serves more than 500 destinations across 46 states and Canadian provinces with Chicago as a major hub.

The Chicago-Milwaukee Intercity Passenger Rail Program is estimated to cost $195 million to add three daily round trips to Amtrak Hiawatha service, with communities like Glenview and Lake Forest expressing concerns about inadequate Environmental Assessment data on freight train impacts.

The resolution urges all proposed Illinois rail projects with new freight train holding tracks adjacent to residential areas to undergo full Environmental Impact Statement reviews rather than limited Environmental Assessments.

Illinois Department of Transportation is urged to pursue options to eliminate or minimize bypass freight traffic routing through the Chicago metropolitan area and prioritize review of rail bypass systems around Chicago.