Amtrak forms Chicago Gateway Initiative panel

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afigg

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Amtrak has formed a "Blue Ribbon" panel called the Chicago Gateway Initiative to study and report on improvements to address the traffic gridlock in the Chicago region. I see this mainly as a political move to focus attention on and raise awareness of the severe delays in Chicago for Amtrak & freight railroads and to make the case for more investments in CREATE (and METRA) projects, regional upgrades and operational changes. CREATE, IL, and the freight railroads already have a long list of proposed infrastructure improvements.

Amtrak news release: Amtrak Establishes Blue Ribbon Panel to Address Chicago Rail Gridlock. (4 page PDF with a map of the Amtrak routes in Chicago on page 4).

Cleveland Plain Dealer article on the panel with a Ohio perspective: Amtrak zeroing in on train delays, cites Chicago-to-Cleveland sluggish service.

Excerpt from the start of the Amtrak news release:

WASHINGTON Amtrak is establishing a blue ribbon panel of rail and transportation leaders to identify infrastructure and operational improvements to address the rail traffic gridlock in Chicago. The unprecedented level of rail congestion is causing major delays for Amtrak passengers and freight shipments which are damaging to the U.S. economy.

Panel members on the Chicago Gateway Initiative include Jack Quinn, former U.S. Congressman and past chairman of the U.S. House Railroads Subcommittee, Linda Morgan, former chair of the Surface Transportation Board and Tom Carper, Amtrak board member and past chairman. The freight railroads which operate in Chicago and other stakeholders will be invited to participate in panel activities and are key to implementing recommended solutions.

Because Chicago is the hub of the U.S. rail network, and the key gateway between East and West rail traffic, gridlock in the Chicago area is causing major delays throughout the United States. The congestion problem is caused by a combination of rising demand on the East Coast for more intermodal freight and crude oil shipments which originate west of Chicago, underinvestment in critical rail infrastructure that produces public benefits and short term capital projects that create additional temporary bottlenecks.

The panel is charged with identifying and evaluating infrastructure investments and operational actions that will optimize Amtrak on-time performance and improve freight rail service. Its objectives are to minimize disruptions and delays, and accelerate the construction of infrastructure projects. A final report on recommendations is expected by the end of May 2015.

The rail gridlock in Chicago is causing unacceptable delays for Amtrak passengers while reducing revenues and driving up operating costs for Amtrak, said Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman.
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