Track upgrades for Illinois high-speed rail to begin in September
Written by jrood
February 14, 2001 Track improvements will start this September to allow trains to travel at much faster speeds between Chicago and St. Louis, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. An agreement between the Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific will allow track upgrades to be made on a 90-mile segment of UP track to prepare it for high-speed rail.
The $98-million project
is a part of the $1.1-billion awarded in January by the Obama Administration to
improve passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. It will allow
trains to operate at speeds of up to 110 mph, cutting the travel time between
the cities by about 90 minutes, to under four hours. That’s up from 79 mph
currently.
U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin
(D-Ill.) said the project, which will be complete by December, will create jobs
and boost commerce in towns along the corridor.
"If there was ever a
moment in our history that we need to create good paying jobs and spur economic
development, it’s this moment," Durbin said.
Construction will begin
on a segment that extends from just north of Alton to south of Springfield,
then resume just north of Springfield to south of Lincoln. The Amtrak line
currently runs through downtown Springfield, and a study is being conducted to
determine whether to keep that route or choose one outside the city.
Other improvements to the
route, to be paid for by stimulus funds, include new "train sets," or
locomotives and passenger cars, improved signals and rebuilding of track.
"Today’s agreement between
the Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific clears the way for
the development of high-speed rail in the Midwest," said Howard A. Learner, executive
director, Environmental Law & Policy Center. "Illinois is ready to get
shovels in the ground, put over 900 people to work and get faster trains
moving.
"Our state is now moving to begin construction of a
modern rail system that will create economic development, better travel options
and less pollution. The agreement is a big first step in the transformation of
our transportation system, " he said. "Construction on this project is expected
to start this fall, and we look forward to high-speed trains operating in
Illinois beginning in 2012. High-speed rail is a win-win-win: good for jobs,
good for economic development and good for the environment.
He continued: "Today’s
announcement moves forward the work over many years by rail advocates and
public officials. We commend Governor Quinn for his leadership in accelerating
high-speed rail in Illinois. We recognize U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s
long-standing commitment and effective political brokering to advance
high-speed rail in the Midwest. We commend President Obama’s important actions
to jumpstart the federal high-speed rail funding program across our nation."
The $98-million project
is a part of the $1.1-billion awarded in January by the Obama Administration to
improve passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. It will allow
trains to operate at speeds of up to 110 mph, cutting the travel time between
the cities by about 90 minutes, to under four hours. That’s up from 79 mph
currently.
U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin
(D-Ill.) said the project, which will be complete by December, will create jobs
and boost commerce in towns along the corridor.
"If there was ever a
moment in our history that we need to create good paying jobs and spur economic
development, it’s this moment," Durbin said.
Construction will begin
on a segment that extends from just north of Alton to south of Springfield,
then resume just north of Springfield to south of Lincoln. The Amtrak line
currently runs through downtown Springfield, and a study is being conducted to
determine whether to keep that route or choose one outside the city.
Other improvements to the
route, to be paid for by stimulus funds, include new "train sets," or
locomotives and passenger cars, improved signals and rebuilding of track.
"Today’s agreement between
the Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific clears the way for
the development of high-speed rail in the Midwest," said Howard A. Learner, executive
director, Environmental Law & Policy Center. "Illinois is ready to get
shovels in the ground, put over 900 people to work and get faster trains
moving.
"Our state is now moving to begin construction of a
modern rail system that will create economic development, better travel options
and less pollution. The agreement is a big first step in the transformation of
our transportation system, " he said. "Construction on this project is expected
to start this fall, and we look forward to high-speed trains operating in
Illinois beginning in 2012. High-speed rail is a win-win-win: good for jobs,
good for economic development and good for the environment.
He continued: "Today’s
announcement moves forward the work over many years by rail advocates and
public officials. We commend Governor Quinn for his leadership in accelerating
high-speed rail in Illinois. We recognize U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s
long-standing commitment and effective political brokering to advance
high-speed rail in the Midwest. We commend President Obama’s important actions
to jumpstart the federal high-speed rail funding program across our nation."
