Aug. 20, 2026
Over the past month, Union Pacific (UP) and the Village have coordinated construction and maintenance agreement language for the Hillside Avenue crossing, as the roadway is owned and maintained by the Village. UP also completed a review of proposed land acquisition areas and continues to coordinate easement language and associated documentation requirements with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). As a result of the UP concurrence with the legal descriptions for the easement areas, the Village has authorized preparation of a plat of highways for these areas for IDOT review. IDOT has shared a draft signal agreement for review by all parties, and the Village is coordinating updates to a draft order based on feedback from all parties, which will be distributed for review this week.
UP has finalized internal funding and Illinois Commerce Commission assistance to support a full crossing renewal at the Hillside crossing as part of this order and expects to share updated scope and cost information with all parties shortly.
The next status hearing is scheduled for mid-September, at which point additional updates will be shared.
July 17, 2026
Over the past two months, engineering plans for the Hough Street and Cook/Main crossings were revised to address initial Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) review comments and resubmitted to IDOT for permit review and processing. Union Pacific (UP) provided its plans for track, signal and associated work for Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) review. IDOT and UP initiated a review of land acquisition areas and are coordinating easement language and associated documentation requirements. As part of this work, IDOT has determined that it will require a plat of highways, and the project team will work to coordinate this document for IDOT review following UP concurrence with the legal descriptions for the easement areas. IDOT is finalizing the drafting of signal agreements and has initiated the review of construction and maintenance language.
UP is working to finalize internal funding and ICC assistance to support a full crossing renewal at the Hillside crossing as part of this order. Once formalized, the additional scope and cost information will be shared with all parties and incorporated into the order.
The next status hearing is scheduled for mid-August, at which point additional updates will be shared.
June 12, 2026
The Village has heard questions from the community about the status of the pedestrian gate project and wanted to provide a quick update.
Recently, the Village filed an extension with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) related to reimbursement funding for engineering and design work associated with new pedestrian gates at the Hough Street, Main Street, Cook Street and Hillside Avenue Union Pacific (UP) rail crossings. The current ICC order authorizing Village reimbursement expires this month.
Importantly, this extension does not delay the project. It simply ensures that reimbursement funds remain available while the final engineering and approval process continues.
The Village has proactively used its own funds to help expedite the project. We continue to work closely with the ICC, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and UP to advance the installation of these safety enhancements as quickly as possible.
While the approval process involves multiple agencies and remains more complex than anyone would prefer, the project continues to have the full support of the ICC, IDOT, and UP. Although the Village does not control the review and approval timelines of these agencies, it remains actively engaged in coordinating between all parties and pursuing every opportunity to move the project forward. One item the Village requested was regular status hearings, where IDOT and UP are required to report on progress since the previous hearing, helping maintain accountability, transparency and momentum throughout the process.
The Village will continue to provide status updates on this page following each scheduled hearing so residents can stay informed of progress as it occurs.
May 13, 2026
Over the past month, the Village’s engineering design consultant finalized survey coordination for the legal descriptions required for land acquisition areas. These documents will soon be submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Union Pacific (UP) for review. Following UP concurrence with these legal descriptions, easement language will be drafted, and the formal legal designation of the easement areas will be coordinated between UP and IDOT.
Draft crossing estimate information has also been distributed to all parties for review. UP continues to coordinate internal funding and Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) assistance to support a full crossing renewal at the Hillside crossing as part of this order. Once formalized, the additional scope and cost information will be shared with all parties and incorporated into the order.
In addition, IDOT is drafting construction and maintenance language related to signal work at the Hough Street crossing. Coordination on similar language for the remaining crossings is ongoing among the involved parties.
The next status hearing is scheduled for mid-July, at which point additional updates will be shared.
March 17, 2026
Over the past month, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) completed its review of construction plans. After receiving feedback from both the ICC and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Village compiled and shared comments with Union Pacific (UP). Following this coordination, the Village’s engineering design consultant is making minor revisions to the plans. These updates will finalize sidewalk crossing locations and allow completion of the legal descriptions required for land acquisition areas, which will then be submitted to IDOT and UP for review.
The ICC was informed that UP is finalizing additional plan and estimate information. This information will be distributed to all parties when complete. UP has also requested a full crossing renewal at the Hillside crossing, along with the installation of pedestrian gates. They are working to coordinate internal funding and ICC assistance to support the additional work.
Once these efforts are finalized, any agreed-upon scope changes and associated costs will be incorporated into the draft order.
The next status hearing is scheduled for early May, at which point additional updates will be shared.
Feb. 10, 2026
Over the past two months, the Village, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IT), and Union Pacific (UP) have made significant progress on land acquisition coordination. Widening the crossings to accommodate the additional gates requires the use of additional Union Pacific property.
IDOT requires easements over these additional areas in order to construct the improvements. UP and IDOT have reached a tentative agreement regarding the processing associated with this land acquisition, and the Village is working to expedite this coordination by preparing legal descriptions of the required land areas for IDOT and UP review.
In addition, the Village received initial comments from IDOT permit review and is coordinating plan revisions to address these comments. Revisions are expected to be completed and resubmitted to the state this month for their final review.
This Illinois Commerce Commission has completed initial cost estimate review and has requested additional plan and estimate information from UP, as well as the IDOT permit documents from the Village. Once additional review of these documents is finalized, these cost figures will be incorporated into the draft order.
The next status hearing is scheduled for early March, at which point additional updates will be shared.
Dec. 15, 2025
Over the past two months, the Village and Union Pacific (UP) have made steady progress on construction plans and cost estimates. The construction plans are currently under review by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for permit approval. Meanwhile, cost estimates for site and roadway work, railroad signal work, and railroad crossing work have been drafted and are undergoing review by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Once finalized, these cost figures will be incorporated into the draft order.
IDOT is also leading the development of a construction and maintenance agreement, which will outline the respective responsibilities of all parties. This agreement is expected to be filed as an exhibit to the final order. In addition, UP and IDOT have made significant headway in securing the necessary land easements for the project and are working to establish a mutual understanding of the process for acquiring the required land. The Village is currently preparing exhibits of the easements to help streamline this coordination.
The next status hearing is scheduled for early February, at which point additional updates will be shared.
Oct. 6, 2025
In September, a draft order was initiated by the Village and is in for review with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), after which it will be reviewed by Union Pacific. Both the Village and Union Pacific (UP) continue to proceed with construction plans and cost estimates, which are anticipated to be substantially complete by the end of November. IDOT is preparing a draft construction and maintenance agreement, which is anticipated to be filed as an exhibit to the final order. UP and IDOT are still in discussion regarding land easements required for the work, which the parties are working to address concurrently to avoid delays in the construction phase.
Aug. 15, 2025
This week, another status update hearing was held related to the installation of pedestrian gates at the Hough Street, Main and Cook Street, and Hillside Avenue Union Pacific (UP) rail crossings. A key update from the meeting is that all involved parties remain supportive of the full scope of work. This shared support is helping move the process forward, as it allows for a coordinated, agreed Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) order, which should facilitate faster approval through the hearing process.
Additionally, UP and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have begun working together on right-of-way access coordination. This step is crucial as necessary access documentation is required to construct the project.
The Village will continue to share new information as it becomes available.
July 11, 2025
This week, the Village, Union Pacific (UP) and IDOT attended a hearing for the installation of pedestrian gates at the Hough Street, Main and Cook Street, and Hillside Avenue UP rail crossings. A key update from the meeting is that UP’s gate and construction plans are on track to be mostly finished this fall. The Village will continue to share new information as it becomes available.
June 6, 2025
At the June 5 Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) hearing, the Village requested monthly hearings to ensure all parties continue to work together expeditiously on the project. These meetings will help the Village provide more frequent updates to the community.
All parties agreed on a draft interim order for reimbursement of engineering design costs, which is expected to be approved later this month. Union Pacific will begin their engineering design work soon, with an estimated completion time of four months, after which they will determine project costs and material needs. The Village is also continuing work on construction documents and coordinating with Union Pacific on right-of-way issues.
The next status hearing is set for July 9. The Village remains committed to moving this project forward efficiently and transparently.
June 3, 2025
As summer break kicks off in Barrington, it is a great time for parents and caregivers to talk to children about rail safety, especially since they will be outside more often and at different times of the day.
Keep this simple safety tip from Union Pacific (UP) in mind at rail crossings: “Head’s up, devices down, eyes and ears open, look around!” For more information about rail safety, visit UP’s website.
Speaking of rail safety, progress continues on the pedestrian gate installation project at several UP crossings in town, including Hough Street, Main and Cook Streets, and Hillside Avenue. This project is a joint effort between:
- Union Pacific (railroad owner)
- Illinois Department of Transportation (roadway owner)
- Illinois Commerce Commission (rail safety oversight and authorization)
- Village of Barrington (local community representation)
All parties are currently working through the state-required legal approval process. Over the coming months, they will continue meeting and participating in hearings to keep the project moving. Once authorization is granted, UP will be responsible for carrying out the installation of the pedestrian gates.
The Village is committed to updating the community as new information and timelines become available.
May 8, 2025
On May 8, the Village attended the first Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) hearing relative to our joint petition with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to request an order for the installation of pedestrian gates at the Hough Street, Main and Cook Street, and Hillside Avenue rail crossings. During the hearing, the judge directed the involved parties to coordinate an on-site diagnostic meeting and prepare a draft interim order. This interim order would authorize the use of grade crossing protection funds for the detailed engineering design work needed to support the installation. The ICC will be initiating these two items with the Village, IDOT and Union Pacific (UP) ahead of the next status hearing, scheduled for early June. During this time, Village staff will also coordinate project portal submittals with the UP to expedite their review of the scope of work.
April 30, 2025
The Illinois Department of Transportation and Village of Barrington jointly filed the Illinois Commerce Commission petition on March 28, 2025. A status hearing will be held on May 8, 2025.
Feb. 11, 2025
At the Feb. 10 Committee of the Whole and Board of Trustees meetings, the Village Board reviewed a proposed plan for installing pedestrian gates at the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) crossings on Hough Street, Main Street and Hillside Avenue. Here are the key details:
- Responsibility: Union Pacific (UP) is responsible for the gate installation, with approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) required for the design.
- Village Engagement: Initial discussions with IDOT and UP suggested closing Cook Street to accommodate new gates. The Village was able to expedite the filing process and prioritize safety while considering the community’s needs, including impacts on access and circulation within the Village center, by being actively engaged in plan development.
- Next Steps: The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) petition is currently being finalized for filing by the state. This petition will include all three gate installations and the gates at Main Steet and Hough Street will be integrated with the traffic signals at that intersection. Following this filing, UP will review this project and provide their comments.
- Impact on Access: Due to the angles of the tracks and space constraints, access to Cook and Main Streets will be affected. The Village has worked to preserve as much of the existing access as possible.
Below is the full update from the Feb. 10 Board of Trustees meeting.
Over the past few months, the Village has provided updates on the state-mandated ICC approval process required to install pedestrian gates. As mentioned, a key step in this process is defining a detailed project scope before any work can begin.
In order to expedite the process, the Village has worked with an engineering consultant, under the guidance of the ICC, to compile the necessary requirements to define the project scope for the Hough Street, Main Street and Hillside Avenue crossings. All three crossings will navigate the ICC approval process together. Additionally, the Main Street and Hough Street crossings will be linked to the signal at the Main and Hough Street intersection.
Strict federal and state regulations govern the placement of pedestrian and vehicular gates, specifying their distance from roadways, sidewalks and railroad tracks. Additionally, Union Pacific design standards dictate the size of the foundations, as well as the height, depth and maximum gate lengths. The layout and angle of the railroad tracks at these crossings, combined with intersecting roads like Cook Street and adjacent driveways, present significant challenges in meeting these regulations.
After an initial review with IDOT and the ICC, it seemed likely that Cook Street would need to be completely closed to Main Street to allow for the installation of the pedestrian gates. However, by spearheading the project scope, the Village was able to work with our engineering consultant to identify options for realigning access points to maintain some connection at Main Street and Cook Street. Before sharing this draft plan, these changes had to be reviewed by the state, as they own Hough Street and Main Street. After making adjustments based on the state’s feedback, the project scope was recently finalized. An engineering exhibit (attached) will be included as an attachment in the ICC petition, which is currently being coordinated for submittal by IDOT.
While working to ensure the pedestrian gate approval process moves as quickly as possible, we have dedicated significant effort to designing and coordinating a plan that prioritizes safety while maintaining access and circulation within the center of our Village. We aimed to preserve as much of the existing access as possible.
However, due to the limited space at these crossings, even with realignment options, some access points will be eliminated.
- Eastbound vehicles on Main Street will no longer be able to turn left onto North Cook Street.
- Westbound vehicles on Main Street will no longer be able to turn left onto South Cook Street.
- Vehicles traveling north on Cook Street will only be able to turn right onto Main Street.
- Vehicles traveling south on Cook Street will no longer have direct access to Main Street.
The Village conducted a traffic study to assess current traffic patterns and evaluate alternate routes. While we acknowledge that it may take time for the community to adjust to these access changes, the study indicates that nearby cross streets can accommodate the rerouted traffic. Additionally, the study suggested extending the westbound left-hand turn lane from Main Street onto South Hough Street, which we have incorporated into the plans.
As with any project, the installation process for these pedestrian gates will have some short-term impacts on the community and may cause inconvenience to daily commutes. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to improve safety and access for all. Thank you for your continued support.
Engineering Exhibit
*Pedestrian gate installation at Hillside Avenue has been determined to be feasible without preliminary plans. Detailed plans for all three intersections will be developed in conjunction with the petition process and Union Pacific review.
Nov. 21, 2024
As has previously been shared, the ICC has jurisdiction to administer and enforce safety requirements for track, facilities and equipment belonging to all railroads in Illinois, and must approve the installation of these pedestrian gates. The ICC has attended multiple site visits and meetings with the Village, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Union Pacific. We have worked, with ICC’s guidance, to build out the required project scope which will allow for the filing that initiates the state-dictated ICC administrative process. As a result of this work, we were able to meet with ICC and IDOT representatives earlier this week to confirm with all parties that the Village and IDOT will move forward as co-petitioners to seek authorization for pedestrian gate installation by the Union Pacific at the Union Pacific Railroad crossings at Hough Street, Main Street and Hillside Avenue. IDOT will be leading the filing process and, at this time, anticipates filing the petition early in the new year following drafting and reviews by our respective legal councils.
These legal proceedings will take time; however, the Village remains committed to doing everything in its control to keep this project moving forward as quickly as possible. We will work to share more information in January or February as this process moves forward.
Oct. 30, 2024
The Village of Barrington is dedicated to enhancing public safety, with a strong focus on rail safety initiatives that affect our community. For several decades, rail safety has remained a top priority. Barrington’s elected officials and staff regularly share updates on these and other efforts through Village communications and at Board of Trustees meetings, which are open to the public.
In March, the Village received notice that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) allocated $1.15 million in its crossing safety improvement program budget toward installing pedestrian crossing gates at Union Pacific crossings in Barrington, including Hough Street, Main Street, and Hillside Avenue. The ICC has jurisdiction to administer and enforce safety requirements for track, facilities, and equipment belonging to all railroads in Illinois and must approve the installation of these pedestrian gates. Before the process can begin to obtain approval, a detailed project scope must be defined. The ICC has attended multiple site visits and meetings with the Village, the Illinois Department of Transportation (roadway owner), and Union Pacific (railway owner). The Village has taken the lead during this process, working with an engineering consultant and ICC’s guidance to compile the various requirements needed to build out the required project scope. The detailed scope is nearing completion and will allow for the filing that initiates the state-dictated ICC administrative process. The process follows the Illinois Administrative Code and includes hearings where each party (the Village, IDOT, UP and ICC) has the opportunity to testify regarding the proposed improvements, presenting exhibits and other evidence relative to the proposed order. As with many legal proceedings, this process will take time. The Village expects the proceedings to take at least a year with final permitting, letting and construction to follow.
The Village remains committed to doing everything in its control to keep the pedestrian gate installation project moving forward as quickly as possible.
For information on the ongoing work at the Canadian National Railway (CN) crossing, visit the pedestrian gate update for CN Main Street crossing page.
Barrington has always taken a thoughtful and balanced approach to growth, preserving the character of our neighborhoods while planning responsibly for the future. With that in mind, I am writing to share serious concerns and urge opposition to House Bill (HB) 5626, known as the BUILD legislation. View the full text of the bill and its status here.
The Village of Barrington is proud to introduce a new therapy dog program within its police department, featuring a 17-week-old male English Labrador puppy named Oliver. As the department’s first-ever “paw-officer,” Oliver will play an essential role in supporting the mental well-being of officers while fostering positive connections with the community.
The Village of Barrington is proud to announce that it has been honored with the prestigious American Public Works Association (APWA) Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award for 2025. This distinction highlights Barrington’s commitment to exceptional snow and ice management and places it among only 11 Illinois agencies and 45 agencies across North America to receive this recognition since the award program began in 2008.