August 21, 2018

Duckworth, Durbin Announce More Than $33 Million In Federal Funding For Positive Train Control In Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $33,224,233 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Chicago-area railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail workers.

“Implementing PTC is vitally important to ensuring that our railroads have the highest level of safety for millions of riders and workers in Illinois and around the country,” Durbin said. “Implementing PTC saves lives. With Chicago being the largest hub in the railroad industry, Senator Duckworth and I will continue working to ensure that our rail agencies have the federal resources needed to ensure safe and reliable transportation.”

“I’m proud to announce today’s federal funding that will improve safety and enhance reliability throughout the Chicagoland rail system,” Duckworth said. “PTC will save lives and protect rail workers, which is why I’m committed to doing all that I can, alongside Senator Durbin, to help ensure it is implemented on all railways in Illinois and across the country.”

Under this announcement, the Commuter Rail Division of the RTA (Metra) Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corp. will receive $22,983,308; Chicago Rail Link will receive $1,640,925; and Belt Railway Company of Chicago will receive $8,600,000 in grant funding.

PTC safety technology integrates GPS, communications units, and a railroad’s centralized dispatching system. Together, these components track trains, convey operating instructions and monitor the crew’s compliance.  PTC will automatically stop a train if the system detects that a violation is about to occur.

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