Ian Jefferies, president and CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) decision to award $19.2 million in federal funding for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program’s Dolton Junction Interlocking project, awarded through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant Program:

“The AAR commends all stakeholders involved in this grant process for moving the ball forward on yet-another aspect of the CREATE program, an exemplary public-private partnership increasing fluidity throughout the Chicago region for both freight customers and rail passengers. This includes the USDOT, the Illinois Congressional delegation, IDOT, other local partners and Amtrak, as well as privately owned freight railroads for continuing to deliver the private capital needed to move CREATE projects like this forward. By updating the interlocking system at this busy rail corridor, railroads will be able to move more efficiently through the area, which will bolster safety and lessen driver and pedestrian disruptions.”