CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -The federal government is investing millions of dollars to enhance passenger rail service between Chicago and several other cities.
Federal and state transportation officials are looking at ways to expand or improve Amtrak service between Chicago and Indianapolis, the Twin Cities as well as several cities in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said there are also plans to improve Chicago's Union Station.
“Our platforms are very congested, and the concourse area of the station has not been redesigned since 1991. Amtrak ridership and Metra ridership today is a lot more than it was in 1991. We’ve basically outgrown that configuration,” said Magliarai.
Federal grants were also awarded for projects to connect Amtrak trains from Chicago to Canada's high speed rail network in Windsor, Ontario, as well as restoring Amtrak service between Chicago and Seattle.
“Directly here in Chicago Union Station, there’s going to be almost $94 million of improvements here,” Magliarai said. “ With each of these 16 or so, and that’s a low number, of possible new services to Chicago, that’s another $8 million. So, all in all, it’s a $101 million investment in our Chicago hub.”
He said there are also plans to deal with choke points on routes south and east of Chicago.
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