Union Station seeks federal funding for expansive rail project

In a letter addressed to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, more than two dozen lawmakers have voiced their support for federal funding of the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP). The project involves expanding Amtrak service to various locations around Chicago while implementing significant improvements at Chicago’s Union Station, a crucial link in Amtrak's network. 

The letter, signed by 29 lawmakers including Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, requests the Department of Transportation's assistance in addressing the more than three million Amtrak riders that utilize Union Station every year. (NBC Chicago)

In a proposal by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Senator Durbin and his colleagues highlight that more than 50% of Amtrak’s long-distance service uses Union Station, and over 90% of Amtrak’s total service outside the East and West Coasts relies on the station at some point. 

The lawmakers are seeking more than $1 billion through President Biden’s Infrastructure plan to supplement the $218 million allocated by Illinois, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, and other state agencies and partners. 

CHIP aims to enable faster services between Chicago and Indianapolis, as well as Chicago to several stations in Michigan. The project would also allow trains to directly pull into Union Station from the south instead of backing into the station, saving time and improving efficiency. 

The project plans to establish the “Great River Service,” a connection between Chicago and Minneapolis through expanded service on the Hiawatha line between Chicago and Milwaukee. Passengers in Eau Claire and Madison, Wisconsin, would then have access to train service headed to Minneapolis.

Infrastructure improvements at Chicago’s Union Station are part of CHIP, including upgrading existing platforms and reactivating former ones used by the United States Postal Service.