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Today, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it obligated $126 million in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program funds to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Chicago’s Englewood Flyover project.

The grade separation project, located south of Chicago Union Station, will eliminate one of the most delay-prone intersections in the Amtrak system, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release. The Englewood Flyover will separate Rock Island District Metra commuter trains from Amtrak passenger trains traveling on the Norfolk Southern Railway corridor.

In addition, an agreement between IDOT, NS and Amtrak lays the groundwork for an additional express track for high-speed trains to points west and south. Amtrak uses the NS line for all trains from Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Indianapolis into Chicago.

The Englewood Flyover project is part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program, a partnership comprising the state of Illinois, city of Chicago, freight railroads, Metra and Amtrak to remove and reduce train congestion throughout the Chicago area and the Midwest.

The flyover will be the first construction project for the Chicago-Detroit high-speed rail corridor, which has received several HSIPR program grants.