[Mister Uptempo]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...318-story.html

Feds, public to hear plan to reduce rail congestion around Chicago

Becky YerakContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune
03/21/16

A proposed 278-mile rail line billed as relief for freight and traffic congestion in the Chicago area is getting a hearing next month from a federal regulator, even as one potential customer said it's not interested.

The Surface Transportation Board, an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has scheduled public meetings in April to get input on the three-state proposal, partly due to its potential for "significant environmental impacts."

Its developer, Great Lakes Basin Transportation, hasn't publicly divulged its funding sources, but said it envisions the privately financed freight rail project to run in relatively sparsely populated areas from near La Porte, Ind., to Milton, Wis., and to connect with existing major railroads.

Great Lakes Basin Transportation filed plans with the Surface Transportation Board on May 1 to build its bypass railroad. GLBT also released a proposal that covers not only the railroad, but also plans to construct a new toll road that mirrors the new rail line, as well as intentions to partner in a potential South Suburban Airport in Peotone. If the airport is built, GLBT would also build a massive new rail yard along the new rail line in Manteno, just south of the new airport.



From Progressive Railroading...

Great Lakes Basin Transportation Inc. on Monday filed its application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to build and operate a freight railroad that would operate in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

The proposal to build a 275-rail line is designed to provide needed rail capacity around the Chicago to meet existing and future demand for rail service, GLBT officials believe.

"The [Great Lakes Basin Railroad] is the largest single freight railroad project proposed for the Chicago region in over a century," said Frank Patton, GLBT founder and chairman, in a press release. "We look forward to working with the STB and other interested parties to move this project forward."

In addition to filing its STB application, GLBT announced this week its proposed "Build Program" to provide new rail, road and air transport capacity for the Midwest.

"The demand for freight and passenger transportation has outgrown the infrastructure in place," Patton said. "The privately financed Build Program will provide a new transportation belt to meet the growing and rapidly changing transportation demands of the 21st century."

In addition to the construction and operation of Great Lakes Basin Railroad, GLBT's program calls for construction of the Burnham Expressway, a privately funded toll road that would connect the Indiana Toll Road with Interstates 80/94, 65, 57, 55 and 80.

The highway would be designed to expedite regional and through road traffic around Chicago. It also would be designed to accommodate autonomous vehicles, GLBT officials said.

Additionally, the program calls for GLBT to participate in the next round of development opportunities for the South Suburban Airport, which are managed by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Link to GLBT
Link to STB's Environmental Impact Study Page
Link to STB's page regarding GLBT