SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice is given that FRA has taken final agency action by issuing certain approvals for the railroad project listed below. The actions on the project, as well as the laws under which such actions were taken, are described in the documentation issued in connection with the project to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), available at railroads.dot.gov/​rail-network-development/​environment/​environmental-reviews/​elwood-braidwood-track-construction.

This notice applies to all Federal agency decisions on the listed project as of the issuance date of this notice and all laws under which such actions were taken, including but not limited to, NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321-4375); Section 4(f) requirements (23 U.S.C. 138, 49 U.S.C. 303); Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108); the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q); the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544); the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251), the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403), the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451), and relevant Executive Orders. This notice does not, however, alter or extend a shorter limitation period that may exist for challenges of project decisions covered by this notice. The project that is the subject of this notice follows:

Project name and location: Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project, Will County, Illinois.

Project Summary: The Federal Railroad Administration (Lead Federal Agency) and Illinois Department of Transportation (Project Proponent/Sponsor) propose to implement railroad improvements between Elwood, IL and Braidwood, IL in accordance with the Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail Program. The project includes construction of a second mainline track of approximately 9.5 miles adjacent to the existing Union Pacific Railroad mainline track, a parallel maintenance access facility, grade crossing improvements, new fencing, culvert, bridge, signal, and related work.

In the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act, Congress provided IDOT funding to support preliminary engineering for the Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project, among other improvements on the Chicago to St. Louis corridor. At this time, no federal funding has been awarded for final design or construction of the Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project.

In July 2025, FRA and IDOT released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Elwood to Braidwood Track Construction Project to evaluate potential impacts to the human and natural environment, in accordance with NEPA. FRA was the lead Federal agency for the NEPA process. FRA released the EA for public review and comment July 9, 2025 through August 15, 2025. IDOT hosted an open house/public hearing on August 7, 2025. FRA considered all comments before issuing a FONSI.

Authority:49 U.S.C. 24201(a)(4) and 23 U.S.C. 139( l)(1).

91 FR 54915