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Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer Dorn July 2 released to Metra a $54 million grant — part of a $319.1 million Full Funding Grant Agreement signed in November 2001 — for "New Start" expansion improvements to three routes:



o $16.4 million to extend the Union Pacific West Line west to Elburn, Ill., improve right of way, and build two stations, commuter parking a train storage yard, which would be located in Elburn;



o $20.6 million to extend Metra’s South West Line to Manhattan, Ill., improve right of ways, build two stations and commuter parking, and purchase new rail cars; and



o $17.4 million to improve to the North Central Line, including the addition of a second track on portions of Wisconsin Central Ltd.’s right-of-way; perform track, signal and station upgrades on the Milwaukee-West Line, build five stations and additional parking at existing stations, and expand a rail yard.



"We’re delighted the FTA and the Department of Transportation have recognized the importance of our program to a region where there is serious gridlock," said Metra Executive Director Phil Pagano in a prepared statement.