John Hennessy III,
P.E.
by Mary Scott Nabers New opportunities for multimodal freight, rail, and port projects are being announced frequently because federal funding is now available to support roadway infrastructure, specifically supply chain projects. In 2022, federal officials announced $1.5 billion in new funding for these types of infrastructure projects. Congress designated the funding to flow through the U.S. […]
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by Mary Scott Nabers Bridge projects currently in the planning phases are abundant throughout the country. Most are large and complex and the majority fall into the category of critical infrastructure. The examples that follow point to commonalities that can be found in planning documents. All projects are likely to launch late this year or early […]
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To prepare this report, the Task Force examined existing challenges within Chicago’s transportation system from accessibility concerns to rise in ride-hailing trips and congestion issues and the need for additional funding for infrastructure. The Task Force also discussed the future of transportation, including the advent of autonomous vehicles, expansion of electrification, implementation of new micro-mobility services, growth of freight delivery, and need for uniform data collection and data sharing.
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In all cases shown below, the benefit-cost ratio exceeds 1, meaning that $1 invested in transit yields more than $1 in economic benefits. Three Chicago-specific studies conducted over the past two decades all show significant benefits to the region if we were to invest in a state of good repair or expand service. Of all the studies we surveyed, the smallest expected return from investing in transit was 21%. This would be considered a hugely successful investment in the private sector.
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Illinois’ roads, highways and bridges form vital transportation links for the state’s residents, visitors and businesses, providing daily access to homes, jobs, shopping, natural resources and recreation. Modernizing Illinois’ transportation system is critical to quality of life and economic competitiveness in the Prairie State. Inadequate transportation investment, which will result in deteriorated transportation facilities and diminished access, will negatively affect economic competitiveness and quality of life in Illinois.
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As the Great Lakes region undertakes planning, policy development, and investments to revitalize its economic base, water is a cornerstone for future growth and prosperity. Jobs in economic sectors that depend directly on water infrastructure generate $447 billion in wages annually. Almost a quarter of the jobs in the region are in water-dependent industries such as agriculture, recreation, and manufacturing. Indeed, water is a fundamental strength upon which the region can build.
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…this configuration in Chicago may be the most heavily used by not only bike riders but pedestrians as well. During the busiest times of rush hour and lunchtime, it sure gets a ton of use by plenty of people. I was lucky to grab Kyle Whitehead from the Active Transportation Alliance for 30 minutes to show me both of Chicago’s intersections. This one is at the intersection of Dearborn & Randolph which was completed near the end of 2016.
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A colossal 90-inch water transmission main was completely relocated to accommodate the rebuilding of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway, while incredibly maintaining water service to 500,000 residents. The project team designed, tested, and constructed a unique thrust restraining system to absorb the massive forces generated by the risky hot tap procedure—where two pipes are connected without emptying pipe contents. The system safely absorbed the high pressure force when water was diverted into the bypass section. It allowed a critical water supply to be preserved, the construction schedule to be reduced by a year, and renovation of the Tollway to proceed.
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One of Chicago’s most noted traffic bottlenecks has been transformed into a smooth-flowing multi-tiered interchange that is also helping spur development of the nearby Chicago Manufacturing Campus. Each day, more than 38,000 vehicles, 50 freight trains and 41 passenger trains used the intersection, creating a crowded logjam. Further complicating the project was its close proximity to an automotive assembly plant, a railroad mixing yard, a residential area, and protected marsh area. The project realigned roadways and added six new bridges, including a 4.75-million-pound steel railroad truss bridge assembled in a nearby staging area then transported in just four hours to its permanent location.
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The Chicago, Ill.-based joint venture of Stanley Consultants, Inc., and Chastain/Thomas has earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC) 50th annual Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA) for the Fox River Bridge in Elgin, Ill.
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