Tag Archives: railroad

Body found near Metra tracks by Bloomingdale Trail

Aug 18, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) A body of a man discovered near Metra tracks on Tuesday near the Bloomingdale Trail on the Northwest side was struck by a train, according to authorities.

A body was first reported by Metra dispatchers at 6:40 a.m. nearby the Bloomindale Trail Western Garden Trailhead in the 1800 block of North Lawndale Avenue, according to Metra and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He was identified as 45-year-old Jesse Stevenson of the 1100 block of North Springfield, according to the medical examiner’s office. An autopsy Wednesday ruled he died of multiple blunt force injuries after being struck by a train. His death was ruled a suicide.

Metra trains on the Milwaukee District West, Milwaukee District North and North Central lines all use the tracks, as well as freight trains on the Canadian Pacific Railway, Metra said.

Video footage from trains reviewed by Metra police shows the body along the tracks as early as 12:30 a.m., according to Metra. However, investigators have found no evidence that Stevenson was struck by a Metra train.

Metra police are continuing to investigate.

 

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Metra calls a halt on its new rail car plan

Aug 10, 2016 | WLSAM Staff

(CHICAGO) The Metra commuter rail agency serving the Chicago area is no longer looking for a vendor to build nearly 370 new cars because of a shortfall in state funds.

Metra officials say Illinois officials have put on hold more than $300 million in funding previously budgeted for the agency’s capital program. In addition the state doesn’t have a capital plan that would spell out how much money the agency would get in the coming years.

The agency has made modernizing its rolling stock a priority because some cars are about 60 years old.

Metra officials have said they need $11.7 billion in capital funding over the next 10 years to install a federally mandated computerized system to prevent train collisions and other improvements in addition to new rail cars.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Railroad work closes road for six weeks in Joliet

Feb 12, 2015 |

(JOLIET) Railroad work will begin Thursday in Joliet, closing a street in the south suburb for six weeks.

Ragnor Benson Construction, LLC will be adding a third rail for the Joliet Bulk Barge and Rail at the crossing near Brandon Road and Woodruff Avenue, Joliet City Manager James D. Hock said in a statement.

Brandon Road will be fully closed for six weeks near the site, Hock said.

Drivers will be detoured to use U.S. Route 6 to the north, Route 53 to the east and Laraway Road to the south, Hock said.

© Copyright 2015 Sun-Times Media, LLC

Elwood railroad crossing closing Wednesday

Jan 28, 2015 |

(ELWOOD) A railroad crossing in southwest suburban Elwood is shutting down Wednesday.

Walter Strawn Drive will be closed to traffic at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks just west of Illinois Route 53 starting Wednesday, according to a statement from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

There will be no access to Walter Strawn Drive from Illinois 53 once the closure is in effect, IDOT said. Commercial vehicles that need to access intermodal terminals in Elwood are encouraged to use Arsenal Road via I-80 and I-55 as an alternate route.

The closure is necessary to meet the requirements of an Illinois Commerce Commission order, IDOT said.

Access to Ira Morgan Drive from Illinois 53 will not be affected, according to IDOT.

© Copyright 2015 Sun-Times Media, LLC

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