While our politicians have been throwing barbs at each other over which of their pet schemes will create the most jobs in Illinois, jobs are quietly being created by the revival of an old industry in South Chicago.
Last spring Metra awarded a major commuter car building project to Morrison Knudsen, which promptly reopened the old Pullman Car plant in Chicago and began to hire a skilled work force to complete the project. On Dec. 3 Amtrak awarded an order for 50 new “Viewliner” sleeping cars to Morrison Knudsen; these cars will also be built in the Chicago plant, adding more jobs to the area. These jobs will be high-skilled permanent positions, unlike those proposed under the airport or casino projects.
The re-establishment of passenger rail car manufacturing in Illinois provides us with an opportunity to be on the leading edge of the rail passenger revolution that is developing in the nation.
Thousands of rail cars will be needed in the next decade to meet the demand for commuter and high-speed intercity rail projects. These cars and their necessary electric and diesel locomotives could be manufactured in Illinois and would firm up our eroded industrial base. We have the workers, the plants and the financial and political clout to make this happen in Illinois.
Our politicians should pause over their grand airport and casino schemes and consider how they could further support the revitalization of an industry already generating positive revenues for the workers, investors and tax collectors in Illinois.
