CREATE partners support STEM education in Chicago

The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program, as part of the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, is continuing to support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in Chicago Public Schools, Leo High School, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Public Library.

For the 2023-2024 school year, CREATE donated $25,000 across eight recipients, totaling $200,000. This marked the fourth time that the program partners have provided grants to communities within the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, CREATE officials said in a news release.

The program partners have announced another $200,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, including $100,000 from the partners and a matching $100,000 donation from Norfolk Southern Railway. The partners include the U.S. Department of Transportation, state of Illinois, Cook County, city of Chicago, Metra, Amtrak, Association of American Railroads and six Class Is. 

CREATE worked with several south side Chicago elementary and high schools to fund engineering and urban planning activities for students to engage with the transportation and infrastructure industries. Program partners from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Department of Transportation, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways and several railroads will continue to visit classrooms to demonstrate building structure, street design and grade crossing design, CREATE officials said.

Launched in 2003 and estimated to cost more than $4 billion, the CREATE program involves 70 rail and road improvement projects in the Chicago area.