CREATE partners mark completion of Metra-CP crossover upgrades

Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program partners and local government officials yesterday held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Franklin Park, Illinois, to mark the end of the Metra/Canadian Pacific Crossover Upgrades (B1) Project.

Funded by Metra, the $14.5 million project has minimized Metra and freight train delays by installing five crossovers and associated signaling on the Metra tracks serving the Milwaukee District West (MD-W) line and CP in Franklin Park. The project is the 31st to be completed out of the 70 that are part of the CREATE Program.

The five crossovers and associated signaling are located between Scott Street and Ruby Street. In addition, another crossover was installed between the Indiana Harbor Belt and CN tracks between Chestnut Avenue and Grand Avenue.

Before the completion of the B1 project, freight trains needed to pass through the CP Bensenville Yard to access the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad main line track. With the improvement, the 12 daily freight trains that pass through the area can bypass the Bensenville Yard on existing Metra tracks.

Those in attendance at yesterday's ceremony included Metra CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski, CP Chief of Administration Corporate Events and Assistant to the President Chad Becker, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Franklin Park Mayor Barrett Pedersen.

"By completing the B1 project, Metra is continuing to achieve our goal to reduce all possible delays throughout the Chicago region," said Derwinski in a press release.