Where the project stands

Barrington’s years-in-the-making pedestrian gate installation at three Union Pacific rail crossings has reached a key administrative step, with a draft order initiated by the Village now under review at the Illinois Department of Transportation, to be followed by Union Pacific’s review, according to the Village of Barrington project update. The Village and Union Pacific are concurrently advancing construction plans and cost estimates, which are anticipated to be substantially complete by the end of November, the project update shows. IDOT is also preparing a draft construction and maintenance agreement expected to be filed as an exhibit to the final order.

Land easements and right-of-way access remain an active workstream between Union Pacific and IDOT, and the parties are addressing them in parallel to avoid construction-phase delays, the Village’s update states. In August, a status hearing confirmed all parties remain supportive of the full scope of work, enabling a coordinated Illinois Commerce Commission order that could streamline approvals through the hearing process. Right-of-way access coordination between IDOT and Union Pacific has begun, the Village reported.

Earlier checkpoints include a July hearing where Union Pacific reported its gate and construction plans were on schedule for mostly fall completion, and a June session where the Village asked for monthly hearings to keep work moving and provide consistent community updates, according to the Village project update. The Village and IDOT jointly filed their ICC petition on March 28, with the first hearing held May 8 to outline design requirements and prepare a draft interim order for design reimbursement.

Who’s responsible

The effort is a multi-agency undertaking. The Village initiated and coordinates the project and community communications; Union Pacific, as the railroad owner, will carry out installation and has been developing rail-side engineering, construction plans and cost estimates; IDOT, the roadway owner, is reviewing the draft order and drafting the construction and maintenance agreement; and the Illinois Commerce Commission provides rail-safety oversight and authorization, the Village of Barrington project update shows.

What residents should expect

The project targets pedestrian gate installations at the Union Pacific crossings at Hough Street, Main and Cook Street, and Hillside Avenue, according to the Village of Barrington project update. Plans call for the Main Street and Hough Street gates to be integrated with the traffic signals at that intersection.

Due to track geometry and limited space near intersecting roads and driveways, access at Main and Cook Streets will change. The Village’s update notes the following adjustments in the finalized scope:

  • 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.

A Village traffic study indicates nearby cross streets can absorb rerouted traffic, and the plans incorporate extending the westbound left-turn lane from Main Street onto South Hough Street to improve flow, according to the Village of Barrington project update. The Village has emphasized that installation will bring short-term disruptions, but the aim is to improve safety and circulation long term.

Statewide context and safety education

The local effort aligns with broader rail-safety investments. The Illinois Commerce Commission’s five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program for fiscal years 2026–2030 directs over $400 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and Rebuild Illinois to upgrades at more than 900 crossing locations, according to Illinois Business Journal. Illinois has more than 10,000 public grade crossings, underscoring the scale of the safety challenge, reporting from Transportation Today shows.

Locally, the Village received notice in March 2024 that the ICC allocated $1.15 million in its crossing safety improvement program budget toward installing pedestrian crossing gates at Hough Street, Main Street and Hillside Avenue, according to the Village of Barrington project update.

Public education is also part of the safety push. Illinois Operation Lifesaver provides rail-safety awareness programs and free presentations led by trained volunteers that communities can leverage to reinforce safe behavior near crossings, according to Illinois Operation Lifesaver. Union Pacific’s core reminder is straightforward: “Head’s up, devices down, eyes and ears open, look around!”

Risks and next steps

Project materials emphasize several dependencies that could influence timing. Easement and right-of-way access agreements remain in progress and, if unresolved, can delay construction even as engineering advances. The draft order is pending Union Pacific’s feedback, and the sequencing of ICC approval with IDOT’s construction and maintenance agreement will shape the timeline, according to the Village of Barrington project update. The Village’s February scope review also identified community impacts from access changes around Main and Cook Streets, which will require continued outreach and monitoring as traffic patterns adjust.

What’s immediately ahead, according to the Village of Barrington project update:

  • IDOT review of the Village-initiated draft order, then Union Pacific review.
  • Substantial completion of construction plans and cost estimates by late November by the Village and Union Pacific.
  • IDOT’s draft construction and maintenance agreement, intended as an exhibit to the final order.
  • Concurrent coordination on land easements and right-of-way access to prevent construction delays.
  • Ongoing status hearings to keep all parties aligned through the ICC process.

As those pieces fall into place, Barrington’s pedestrian gate project sits at the intersection of local design choices and statewide safety priorities. The coordinated order sought through the ICC, along with IDOT’s agreement and Union Pacific’s engineering work, will determine when shovels can hit the ground. With funding pathways expanding across Illinois and safety education resources readily available, the coming weeks of reviews, easement negotiations and plan finalization will be decisive for moving the work from paper to the crossings themselves.