The project will occur between Mannheim Road (mile post 14.08) and the CN tracks (mile post 12.62) in the Village of Franklin Park, Illinois.
The study limits are specifically located along Martens Street from W. Grand Avenue to Belmont Avenue; 25th Avenue from W. Grand Avenue to King Street; Belmont Avenue from Scott Street to east of the Canadian Pacific (CN) Railroad; and Franklin Avenue from Scott Street to Commerce Street.
The preferred alternative is located along the Martens Street corridor. The future Martens Street corridor is planned to begin at Grand Avenue on the south and extend north to Belmont Avenue, a distance of 0.5 miles.
The study limits are specifically located along Martens Street from W. Grand Avenue to Belmont Avenue; 25th Avenue from W. Grand Avenue to King Street; Belmont Avenue from Scott Street to east of the Canadian Pacific (CN) Railroad; and Franklin Avenue from Scott Street to Commerce Street.
The preferred alternative is located along the Martens Street corridor. The future Martens Street corridor is planned to begin at Grand Avenue on the south and extend north to Belmont Avenue, a distance of 0.5 miles.
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project overviewThe Connect Franklin Park project is aimed at increasing safety, improving access, and addressing mobility that will connect the downtown to other areas of the Village and to the greater region.
The Village of Franklin Park has a total of five at-grade railroad crossings within the community. Frequent freight and commuter trains cause significant delays to traffic moving through the area, impacting commuter traffic, pedestrians, buses, emergency vehicles, and bicyclists. The freight delays have created emergency vehicle delays and unsafe pedestrian crossings during rail blockages. In 2023, the Village received grants from Federal Rail Administration (FRA), Cook County, and Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Railroad Crossing Elimination program to help fund design. The Village will be working with the project team to complete preliminary engineering of the roadway underpass and pedestrian underpass and obtain approvals from various agencies. Following the completion of this study, detailed engineering to prepare construction documents and property acquisition phase would begin prior to beginning construction. It is estimated that construction would begin by 2030 subject to the availability of funding. |
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project benefits
At-grade train crossings can disconnect a community and cause increased delays and safety concerns for residents and commuters. The proposed grade separation benefits include:
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Reduced vehicle-train conflict
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Increased Safety
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More efficient response from the police and fire departments
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Reduced congestion and delays
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Improved mobility for all modes of transportation
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project Schedule
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