Illinois e-News Release

September 9, 2025

 

Cayli Baker

Office: (312) 793-8841 

Chicago, IL – Media are encouraged to join the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Operation Lifesaver (OL), and the Village of Elmwood Park next Wednesday, September 17, for a Rail Safety Week press conference.

Speakers will spotlight Elmwood Park’s Grand Gateway Project and how cooperation between federal, state, and local government can advance much-needed rail crossing safety upgrades. Elmwood Park, home to a commuter station and the notoriously dangerous West Grand Ave crossing, is a prime example of what local governments can do to address day-to-day concerns, while pursing the infrastructure upgrades needed to better protect pedestrians and motorists around train tracks. 

DATE:                 Wednesday, September 17, 2025

TIME:                  9:30am CT

LOCATION:      Village of Elmwood Park

                               Municipal Building

                              11 W. Conti Parkway, Elmwood Park  

SPEAKERS:      Doug Scott, ICC Chairman

                               Angelo “Skip” Saviano, Village of Elmwood Park President

                               Aisha Jackson, Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator

Illinois OL will discuss how other communities can implement “the 3 E’s” of rail safety: education, enforcement, and engineering, to address local safety concerns. Ahead of the press conference, Illinois OL will be at the Elmwood Park METRA station starting at 5:30am for a commuter safety blitz.  

Rail Safety Week is a nationwide public safety campaign, started in Illinois, that brings together communities, industry stakeholders, and government agencies to prevent track tragedies.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is a quasi-judicial body made up of five Commissioners.  Through its Public Utility Program, the Commission oversees the provision of adequate, reliable, efficient, and safe utility services at the least possible cost to Illinois citizens served by electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, and sewer public utility companies. Through its Transportation Regulatory Program, the Commission oversees public safety and consumer protection programs with regard to intrastate commercial motor carriers of general freight, household goods movers, relocation towers, safety towers, personal property warehouses, and repossession agencies. The Commission’s Rail Safety Program also inspects and regulates the general safety of railroad tracks, facilities, and equipment in the state. 

To learn more about the Commission, its offices, and bureaus, click here. If you are a consumer who needs help resolving a utility dispute call 800-524-0795 or file an online complaint here.  For a complaint related to transportation, call 217-782-6448.

Follow the Illinois Commerce Commission on social media @ILCommerceComm.