The FTA issues Special Directive 18-3 to require the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to conduct a safety risk assessment of its highway grade crossings at or near its third rail system, and develop a corrective action plan of those railroad grade crossings deemed to have an unacceptable risk. FTA directs the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to review, validate, and approve CTA's risk assessment findings and corrective action plan, and then submit the findings to FTA based on the following timetable:

1. Within 30 days from the date of issuance of this Special Directive, CTA or IDOT may petition for special approval to take actions not in accordance with this Special Directive or may petition for reconsideration.
2. Within 120 days from the date of issuance of this Special Directive, CTA must conduct its safety risk assessment, develop a corrective action plan, and submit the plan to IDOT for review, validation, and approval.
3. Within 70 days of receipt of a corrective action plan submitted by CTA, IDOT must review the plan, return the plan to CTA with specific direction for additional actions to be completed or revised, if necessary, and approve the plan.
4. Within 190 days from the date of issuance of this Special Directive, IDOT is required to submit the findings to FT A.