Help the Illinois High Speed Railway Commission Continue Its Important Work
Ask Governor Pritzker to sign HB4442 to extend the commission
The Illinois General Assembly has voted to extend the life of the Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission by three years—to January 1, 2030. The bill went to Governor Pritzker on June 18. He has 60 days to sign it.
As your Commissioner, I am working for a plan that will connect every community in Illinois and surrounding states with an integrated network of passenger trains, regional buses, and local transit.
The Commission’s work so far includes developing the first true analysis of possible routings for a dedicated high-speed line from Chicago to St. Louis. We have also done a very conservative ridership estimate.
But much more work remains to be done. Key items on our agenda include:
- Making recommendations regarding the specific route and the station in Chicago.
- Debating complex challenges, like how to get high-speed trains through Chicago to O’Hare.
- Coming to terms with station locations in the intermediate cities.
- Offering recommendations regarding governance.
- Explaining how the connecting routes will feed passengers to the high-speed line—and vice versa.
Thank you to the representatives and senators who voted to allow this critical work to continue. We are thrilled that the bill is on Gov. Pritzker’s desk. Illinois now has a prime opportunity to take the lead in developing a new, sustainable transportation model. Success here will push other states to follow our lead.
Please take a moment and let Gov. Pritzker know how important it is to you—and to the future of Illinois and beyond—that he sign HB4442.
