CHICAGO, IL — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announces that the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program’s Forest Hill Flyover has won top honors among Midwest states in the latest America's Transportation Awards.
“We’re pleased to be recognized for this project, which has positively impacted both the local community and the movement of goods and people throughout the country,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said. “Congratulations to everyone on the IDOT team and our CREATE partners, who helped deliver these improvements to improve safety, efficiency, and quality of life while keeping rail traffic moving in Illinois.”
Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), America's Transportation Awards honor transportation projects that deliver meaningful benefits to communities. They are among the highest recognition for state departments of transportation.
The Forest Hill Flyover won in the safety category for large projects. The improvement added an elevated rail corridor and additional tracks on Chicago, Illinois’ South Side at what was one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the country, separating trains from vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic. The flyover has decreased noise, reduced emissions, and improved reliability for first responders, while keeping an estimated $652 billion worth of goods moving through Chicago by rail each year and improving the safety of passenger and commuter rail.
The flyover is the latest success story for CREATE, a public-private partnership between railroads and state and local governments working together to improve the way passengers and goods move over rail while enhancing safety. As a leading CREATE partner, IDOT plays a pivotal role in shaping planning and programming strategies for these efforts.
“For almost two decades, the America’s Transportation Awards has highlighted the innovative work state DOTs do to improve communities and enhance the lives of the people who live and visit them. But the truth is, these projects are just a fraction of the incredible work done by state DOTs every year,” AASHTO Executive Director Jim Tymon said. “AASHTO is proud to recognize the diverse and forward-thinking projects that are improving safety, mobility, and quality of life in communities across the country.”
