|
More than $115 million in infrastructure funding will support improvements to Metra line
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded $117 million in grant funding to help enhance and rebuild Metra's Union Pacific North line, from Fullerton Avenue to Addison Street in Chicago.
Metra and other regional partners successfully secured the funding after applying for a Mega grant, a program created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that helps fund large and significant projects that deliver the most benefits for a region.
The $117 million in Mega funding will help replace approximately 11 bridges, four miles of track structure, and nearly two miles of retaining walls along the line. Metra estimates that the project will make the line safer and more efficient, reducing passenger delay by 38 million hours over the next 30 years.
The Metra rebuild is a part of the region's priority projects list. CMAP worked with stakeholders and partners throughout northeastern Illinois to identify and align 20 projects that address regional transportation needs
The list includes improvements that enhance the region’s transit system, support freight movement, and strengthen options for vulnerable users like bicyclists and pedestrians. The projects align with the core principles that guide the infrastructure law and our region — inclusive growth, resilience, and prioritized investment.
|
|
Stay up to date on the latest news and resources related to the federal infrastructure law
There's a lot to unpack with the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that addresses infrastructure improvements, resilience, equity, accessibility, and more. Since the law took effect more than a year ago, CMAP has heard from partners throughout the region about the need for sharing information and what it means for northeastern Illinois.
CMAP’s latest updates feature:
- The regional projects awarded grant funding in the past year
- A calendar of upcoming grant opportunities in 2023
- Federal resources related to the law and fact sheets explaining regional project proposals
|
|
|
Federal grant to help region address sharp rise in traffic deaths, improve travel safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $3.9 million in grant funding to a collaborative regional effort to address increasingly dangerous conditions on roadways. The grant was awarded through new Safe Streets and Roads for All program created under the infrastructure law.
The funding will help create a comprehensive, regional program called the Safe Travel for All Roadmap (STAR) program, which will provide a regional framework for safety research and programs that can make northeastern Illinois safer for all travelers.
In addition to the $3.9 million federal grant, partners have committed nearly $1 million to the effort, bringing the STAR program's total investment to nearly $5 million. CMAP, IDOT, and six of the region's counties all partnered together on the successful federal grant application.
The STAR program will provide technical assistance to six counties in our region to develop countywide safety action plans. These plans will enable the counties and their municipalities to meet eligibility requirements to apply for federal implementation grants.
"STAR will be transformative for the safety of everyone in our region, especially our most vulnerable travelers," said CMAP Executive Director Erin Aleman. "We look forward to working with our partners to make critical improvements in our communities and save lives."
|
|
Call for projects: Communities can apply now for surface transportation project funding
To help realize the regional principles of ON TO 2050 and help communities prosper through transportation investments, CMAP is currently accepting funding applications for surface transportation projects.
The call for projects lasts through Friday, March 10.
These programs can help fund projects that improve safety, transit, bicycle, or pedestrian facilities. They also help address freight and traffic movement, repair bridges, reconstruct roads, and invest in alternative fuel vehicles and equipment.
Funding for these projects will be distributed through the federal sources that CMAP programs, including the regional Surface Transportation Program Shared Fund, the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program, the locally programmed Transportation Alternatives Program, and the new Carbon Reduction Program.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes more money available for programming these funds. The infrastructure law also created the Carbon Reduction Program, which provides another funding source for projects designed to reduce transportation emissions.
|
|
Apply now: RAISE grants from USDOT can help communities improve transportation
State and local partners, including municipalities and counties, can apply for infrastructure grants available through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program.
The popular RAISE program helps communities carry out freight and passenger transportation improvements with significant local or regional impact. In 2022, RAISE funded 166 infrastructure improvements throughout the country.
As authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the RAISE program prioritizes projects that can address safety, environmental sustainability, mobility and community connectivity, and quality of life. The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications through Tuesday, February 28.
|
|
|
|
|
