APPENDIX B: NO BUILD LIST

APPENDIX B: NO BUILD LIST
Project Name Location Description

Illinois

Chicago to St. 

Louis High-Speed 

Rail

Chicago to St. 

Louis

Corridor improvements include upgraded track built and maintained 

to 110 miles per hour standards, siding and crossovers, grade 

crossing surfaces, signals and warning system, and stations. Track 

upgrades include new premium rail, stone ballast, and the 

replacement of outdated wooden ties with concrete ties. The 

refurbishing of rail/highway crossings includes new concrete road 

services, the installation of switches and class 6 tracks, drainage 

improvements, and enhancements to bridges, culverts and stations.

Midwest rail 

equipment

procurement

Multi-state 

Procurement of next generation high performance locomotives and 

bi-level rail cars for use in various high speed rail corridors around 

the country including the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail 

Corridor Program.

CREATE P1

Englewood Flyover Chicago, Ill.

Construction of rail/rail grade separation. Removes conflict point 

among Metra, Amtrak (including existing Michigan Service trains), 

and freight trains.

CREATE WA-1 

Ogden Junction Chicago, Ill.

Installation of a new bi-directional computerized Traffic Control

System on a two-mile segment of the Union Pacific rail line along the 

CREATE Western Avenue Corridor. Approximately 7 hand-thrown 

switches will be upgraded to power switches as

part of the project. New control points along with main line 

realignment will enable simultaneous movements between

the UP, CSX, and NS main lines. The project will also include 

structural improvements to multiple bridges. Combination of 

improvements will enable operating speeds of up to 25 mph.

CREATE WA-2 

Signalization – 

Ogden Junction to 

75th Street

Chicago, Ill.

Installation of a new bi-directional computerized Traffic Control

System on a seven-mile segment of the CSX rail line along the 

CREATE Western Avenue Corridor. Approximately 15 hand-thrown 

switches will be upgraded to power switches. At the CSX 59th Street 

Yard, signals and switches will be upgraded to improve flexibility in 

mainline operations. One of the CSX mainlines will be upgraded 

between 51st Street and 71st Street from the existing 10 mph 

maximum speed to allow 25 mph operations. The project will install a 

new eastward connection to the Belt Railway from a CSX main line. 

All of this work will be within existing railroad right-of-way. Bridges at 

35th Street and 36th Street will be reconstructed to accommodate the 

proposed increase in speed.

CREATE WA-3 

Signalization – 

Ogden Junction to 

CP 518

Chicago, Ill.

Replacement/installation of power operated switches and a Traffic 

Control System along the NS main tracks. Will signalize and allow 

bidirectional movements along the main tracks through Ashland 

Avenue Yard from 22nd Street to Control Point 518. Adds a passing 

track alongside the Ashland Avenue Yard.

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 1
Project Name Location Description

CREATE WA-4 

BNSF ConnectionWestern Avenue to 

Ash Street (BNSF 

Horseshoe)

Chicago, Ill.

Construction of new track from 31st and California Ave. on the BNSF 

Chillicothe Subdivision along Western Ave. to 21st St. and California

Ave. on the BNSF Chicago Subdivision. Rehabilitation of up to 6 

bridges over city streets and over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship 

Canal. Installation of crossover switches between the BNSF 

Chillicothe Subdivision and the CN Freeport Subdivision. Installation 

of crossovers between the new track and CSX Blue Island 

Subdivision. Installation of Centralized Traffic Control signalization 

over the length of the project.

CREATE WA-7 

Brighton Park 

Connection

Chicago, Ill.

Construction of a new connection from the CN Joliet Subdivision near 

California Ave. and Archer Ave. to the CREATE Western Avenue 

Corridor. Also includes construction of an additional track along the 

Western Avenue Corridor to the 22nd St. Interlocking near 21st 

Street and Western Avenue. Rehabilitation of multiple bridges over 

city streets and over the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. 

Installation of crossover switches between the new track and the 

CREATE Western Avenue Corridor. Installation of Centralized Traffic 

Control signalization over the length of the project.

CREATE WA-10

Blue Island 

Junction

Chicago, Ill.

Installation of a series of crossovers between CSX Blue Island

Subdivision and the CN Elsdon Subdivision, and new signals at Blue 

Island Junction to facilitate bi-directional movements. Will make 

associated signal improvements including installation of new traffic 

control signals on both the CSX and CN lines.

CREATE WA-11

Dolton Interlocking 

Upgrade

Chicago, Ill.

Upgrade and reconfiguration of the CSX/IHB/UP connections at 

Dolton Interlocking including the replacement of an NS connection 

between the IHB and CSX. Construction of a third main line with 

direct access from CSX and Barr Yard to the UP mainline. Construct 

crossovers between two mainline IHB tracks. Upgrade connection 

between IHB and UP. Automate Dolton Tower for remote control.

CREATE EW-3 

Pullman Junction Chicago, Ill.

In the BRC’s Commercial Avenue Yard, upgrade of an existing yard 

track to a main line track from Rock Island Junction to Pullman 

Junction (where the BRC and NS connect near Stony Island and 95th 

Street). Realign track and upgrade signals at the north end of NS 

Calumet Yard where it connects to the BRC. Add yard track capacity 

at 80th Street to offset the loss of the BRC Commercial Ave. Yard 

track due to the upgrade to main line track. Upgrade signals 

throughout the entire project to Centralized Traffic Control.

CREATE B-12

Third Mainline – 

123rd Street to Cal 

Sag Channel 

Chicago, Ill.

Construction of a third main line along the Indiana Harbor Belt. 

Upgrading of some existing track at interlockings, where two tracks 

cross. Includes a new rail bridge over 127th Street and associated 

signal work. The new third main line track now provides additional 

capacity for trains passing through the area to proceed around trains 

waiting for yard access.

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 2
Project Name Location Description

CREATE B-15

Signalization of 

Blue Island Yard 

Running Tracks

Chicago, Ill.

Installation of a new bi-directional computerized Traffic Control 

System on a three-mile segment of Indiana Harbor Belt (IHB) 

mainline track along the north side of Blue Island Yard. Addition of 

two new control points, including installation of a series of crossovers 

at CP School Street and a turnout at CP Ashland, additional 

crossovers to CP Harvey, and installation of electric lock switches 

and the replacement of approximately five hand-thrown switches with 

power operated switches. Improvements have enabled train speeds 

to increase in the area from 15 mph to 30 mph. Now trains can pass 

through this segment in as little as six minutes. Previously trains 

experienced 15 to 30 minutes of delay for every hand-operated 

switch navigated as well as delays waiting for other trains to navigate 

the project limits with manual switches. Most trains used to spend up 

to one hour to traverse the limits of this project. Increased freight 

speeds and improved fluidity on the IHB allow trains to clear Dolton

Interlocking more quickly, reducing the potential for freight conflict 

with Amtrak and improving travel time, speed, and reliability.

CREATE B-16

Thornton Junction Chicago, Ill.

Installation of a new interlocked connection between the CN and 

UP/CSX in the southwest quadrant of the current crossing at 

Thornton Junction. Creates a track connection that allows more 

evenly distributed freight train traffic throughout the regional rail 

network.

CREATE EW-4

BRC and NS 

Signalization (CP 

509)

Chicago, Ill.

Upgrade of the Belt Railway Company of Chicago (BRC) and Norfolk 

Southern (NS) signal systems to power switches and signals and 

connection of the two systems. Minor track realignment and grading.

Indiana

Tolleston power 

switch Hobart, Ind.

Project will power and signal existing Chicago, Fort Wayne and 

Eastern Railroad hand throw track switch currently lined toward the 

NS connecting track. Proposed project will add control to switch to 

allow NS dispatcher to control train movements. This will provide for 

the continuous movement of trains at Class III speeds instead of the 

current Class I speed.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #1 Burdick, Ind.

Construction of an additional #20 Universal Crossover between NS 

main tracks #1 and #2 on the NS Chicago Line at MP CD479.3, 

configured with the eastern crossover being a right hand crossover 

and the western crossover being a left hand crossover. The design of 

the new control point will provide adequate room and signal flexibility 

to accommodate the potential future installation of a #20 LH Power 

Turnout from track #2 to an extended Porter siding. 

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 3
Project Name Location Description

Indiana Gateway 

Project #2 Porter, Ind.

Construction of a new 3,000 foot long meet/pass siding on the 

Amtrak Michigan Line between MP 238.9 and MP 239.7. The project 

location is about 0.75 miles northeast of the junction with the NS 

Chicago Line. The siding will include #20 power turnouts at each end, 

and will be constructed to current Amtrak main line standards. The 

rail corridor at this location formerly contained two main tracks and 

the vacant roadbed to the south of the existing Amtrak main track will 

be utilized. The Subproject site is east of the Little Calumet River 

Bridge.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #3

Burns Harbor, Ind.

East End

Expansion of CP 485 to include a #20 Universal Crossover between 

NS Chicago Line main tracks #1 and #2, configured with the eastern 

crossover being a right hand and the western crossover being a left

hand. Additional yard track and turnout changes are made to allow 

Burns Harbor Yard traffic access main track #2.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #4

Burns Harbor, Ind.

West End

Replacement and expansion of control point at MP CD487, including 

the creation of a #20 Universal Crossover configured with the eastern 

crossover being a left hand (located west of the Chicago South Shore 

and South Bend Railroad CSS&SB US Steel access turnouts in 

tracks #1 & #2) and the western crossover being a right hand. 

Additional yard track and turnout changes are made to allow Burns 

Harbor Yard traffic to access US Steel without conflict with the NS 

Chicago Line main track #1.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #5 Miller (Gary, Ind.) 

Creation of a segment of track with clear length of 11,000 TF by 

extending the existing Millers Siding eastward by 0.8 mile and 

upgrading the existing Millers Siding trackage to NS’s main line 

standard. 

The project includes: 

• Construction of a new CP at MP 490.2 to include a #20 

Universal Crossover and a power #20 right hand turnout 

configured for parallel access to new track; 

• Siding extension on the north side of the existing main track 

between MP 490.2 and MP 491.0 and elimination of the existing 

CP-491; 

• Upgrading the existing “Millers” Siding to the current NS main 

line standard, including rail and tie replacement and surfacing; 

and 

• Construction of a new CP at MP 492.5 to include a #20 

Universal Crossover and a power left hand turnout, which will be 

configured for parallel access to new track.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #6 Gary, Ind.

Construction of an additional #20 Universal Crossover between NS 

Chicago Line main tracks #1 and #2 at MP CD494.7. Crossovers will 

be configured with the eastern crossover being a left hand crossover 

and the western crossover being a right hand crossover. Additionally, 

the project will design a control point to provide a right hand Power 

Turnout from track #1 to an industrial connection.

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 4
Project Name Location Description

Indiana Gateway 

Project #7

Pine Yard (Gary, 

Ind.) 

Project #7 will effectively create a segment of track approximately 6.0 

miles extending from CP497at MP CD497.2 westward to CP 503 

(formerly CP-Hick) at milepost CD503.2. Project #7 will: 

• Modify and expand CP 497 by installing a #20 turnout to access 

the Pine Yard siding extension to enable parallel moves, 

construct a passing siding extension on the north side between 

MP CD497.2 and the east end of Pine Yard at MP CD499.2.

• Add a right hand power #10 turnout to access the yard at the 

east end of Pine Yard at MP CD498.8, upgrade the existing Pine 

Yard passing siding rail and ties to NS Chicago Line main line 

quality. 

• Add a left hand power #10 crossover to access the yard at the 

west end of Pine Yard at MP CD500.1

• Construct a passing siding extension on the north side between 

MP 500.2 and MP 501.3. 

• Modify and expand CP 501 by adding a #20 power turnout in 

track #1 to access the Pine Yard siding extension and to enable 

a parallel move.

• Add a #20 left hand crossover between main track #1 and track 

#3.

Indiana Gateway 

Project #8 Whiting, Ind.

Subproject 8 will effectively create a segment of track approximately 

5.6 miles in length that extends from CP 503 (formerly CP-Hick) at 

MP CD503.8 westward to CP 509 at MP CD509.4. Subproject 8 will:

• Expand CP 507 at MP CD507.2 by creating a #20 Universal 

Crossover between track #1 and track #2, which will be 

configured with the eastern crossover being a right hand 

crossover and the western crossover being a left hand 

crossover, add a #20 left hand crossover between track #2 and 

track #4 for parallel movements.

• Modify and Expand CP 506 at MP CD506.6 to accommodate 

additional and parallel movements. Install a #20 right hand 

crossover between Tracks #2 and #4, and install a #15 left hand 

crossover and power turnout in Track #4 to access Track #3.

• Eliminate CP 505 and construct track on the south side of track 

#2 to connect existing track #19 to the existing track #4 at 

Colehour Yard.

Michigan

Kalamazoo to 

Dearborn corridor 

acquisition

Kalamazoo, Mich. 

to Dearborn, Mich.

Michigan Department of Transportation acquisition of the NS 

Michigan Line between Kalamazoo, Mich. to Dearborn, Mich.

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 5
Project Name Location Description

Kalamazoo to 

Dearborn Corridor 

Improvement 

Phase 1

Kalamazoo, Mich.

to Dearborn, Mich.

Phase 1 of 3 proposed phases to improve the Kalamazoo to 

Dearborn Corridor to accommodate 110 mph passenger rail service 

includes:

• Upgrade existing track to Class 6 track from Kalamazoo, Mich. to 

Battle Creek, Mich. and from Ypsilanti, Mich. to CP Town Line 

(Dearborn, Mich.) to allow 110 mph passenger rail service.

• Upgrade existing track to Class 4 track from Battle Creek, Mich. 

to Ypsilanti, Mich. to allow 79 mph passenger service.

• Install Incremental Train Control System from Kalamazoo, Mich. 

to CP Town Line (Dearborn, Mich.).

West Detroit 

Connection Track 

Improvements

Detroit, Mich. 

Construction of a new interlocking to provide a direct connection 

between CN and CSAO mainlines at West Detroit Junction. The 

improvement will enable the separation of passenger rail service from 

freight rail service and increase passenger rail speeds and reduce 

travel time in the area.

Battle Creek 

Station 

Improvement

Battle Creek, Mich.

Renovation of station's interior lobby, bathrooms, ticketing areas and 

offices, lighting, signage, and to make the station compliant with 

ADA. Exterior refurbishment to the façade and installation of new 

exterior lighting.

Dearborn 

Intermodal 

Passenger Rail 

Station

Dearborn, Mich.

Construction of a 16,000 square foot intermodal station that will 

support intercity and commuter passenger rail service, intercity and 

local bus systems, corporate and hotel shuttle services, taxi service, 

personal automobile, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Troy Multi-Modal 

Transit Center Troy, Mich.

Construction of a 2,000 square foot intermodal station that will 

support intercity and light rail passenger rail service, regional bus 

systems, taxi service, personal automobile, and provide easy access 

to the Troy-Oakland Airport.

Pontiac 

Transportation 

Center

Pontiac, Mich.

Construction of a new Pontiac Transportation Center that measures 

about 4,500 square feet in size, and includes a passenger lobby with 

bus ticketing facilities, restrooms, Amtrak crew base and covered 

waiting areas for both trains and buses. It is served by the Amtrak 

Wolverine Service, two to eight daily Greyhound departures, and 

local bus service.

Ann Arbor to Detroit 

Regional Rail Car 

Refurbishment

Ann Arbor, Mich. to 

Detroit, Mich. 

Refurbishment of three cab cars and six coach cars for the proposed 

Ann Arbor to Detroit Regional Rail service.

Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac Passenger Rail Corridor Program Tier 1 EIS 6