12.19.18

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million For Positive Train Control

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $2,058,163 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Metra 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. This technology will save lives,” Durbin said. “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 investments that will improve the Chicagoland rail system’s safety and reliability,” Duckworth said. “PTC technology will save lives and protect rail workers, and I’ll keep working alongside Senator Durbin to help ensure it is implemented on every railway in Illinois and throughout the country.”

Under this announcement, Commuter Rail Division of the Regional Transportation Authority (Metra) will receive funding to implement PTC for rail lines across the six-county Northeast Illinois region comprised of Lake, McHenry, Kane, Will, DuPage, and Cook Counties.

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