CREATE: A National Model for Freight Coordination and Investment
June 16 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Speakers:
Jesse Elam, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways
Joanne Fehn, Illinois Department of Transportation
Fred Miller, Association of American Railroads
Ryan Richter, Chicago Department of Transportation
Details: Chicago’s critical location in the North American railroad network has made it the nation’s rail hub for more than a century. The Chicago Regional Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program is a public‑private partnership advancing a set of 70 rail projects in the Chicago region.
These projects are designed to strengthen the nation’s supply chain by addressing bottlenecks, improving safety, and enhancing connectivity. By sharing lessons learned, project outcomes, and emerging needs, this presentation can inform similar efforts in other regions, as well as overall freight advocacy efforts. Together, these insights underscore CREATE’s broader value as a model for advancing freight mobility and strengthening the national supply chain.
