Illinois Transit Package Opens Door to Regional Rail

The Illinois General Assembly passed a package of bills Friday morning that will increase public transportation funding by $1.5 billion. It includes several provisions to boost regional rail in Illinois, which will feed into our ultimate goal of 220-mph high-speed rail routes.

This legislation goes to show that Illinois lawmakers take public transportation seriously, and recognize its value to the state, economically and socially. A study by Argonne National Laboratory determined that every dollar spent on transit produces $13 in economic activity and societal benefit. It’s an excellent investment.

It’s also brilliant that lawmakers decided to envision the transportation system we should have, rather than applying a Band-Aid to the existing system to keep it going as-is until the next calamity. Other than congestion pricing in New York City, this is the best response of any state or metropolitan region to the Transit Fiscal Cliff.

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We are grateful to the legislators who did not give up on this, the legislators who voted for this even though it was a tough vote for them, and to Gov. JB Pritzker and his staff, who helped develop ideas and applied pressure at the right time.

We also thank our readers and supporters, many of whom made phone calls or sent emails to their legislators, letting them know that transit is important to them. There was no phone call or email that was superfluous; any one of them might have pushed this over the top.

Many worked hard on this. We were part of a coalition, which included the Active Transportation Alliance, Better Streets Chicago, the Illinois Environmental Council, and the Metropolitan Planning Council. The High Speed Rail Alliance is proud to have been a part of such a dedicated team of activists.

Here’s what’s in the package that affects our efforts to create a regional rail network throughout Illinois and into neighboring states, augmented by inter-city bus service:

• A study of extending Metra service from University Park to Kankakee. We’re for this, but it’ll be important for us to influence the study to recognize that (1) this service should be provided with two new tracks, with overhead electric power, and (2) it should go to Champaign. We believe Chicago-to-Champaign as a commuter route, with hourly (or better) service and a trip taking two hours or less, is achievable, and highly beneficial for the people and cities served.
• Starting to implement regional rail by increasing service on the Metra Rock Island District between LaSalle Street Station and Blue Island, so the Beverly Branch and the new Auburn Park station at 79^th Street will have more frequent trains. This is one of three Metra lines that are easiest to develop for regional rail, the others being the Metra Electric District and the Union Pacific North Line.
• Intercity passenger rail becomes eligible for Downstate transit funding. That’s several hundred million for station improvements, grade separations, tracks and signals to improve and expand train service Downstate.
• The South Shore Line will carry passengers between Downtown Chicago and 57^th Street, including intermediate stops. There’s no reason somebody standing on the platform at 57^th Street or Van Buren Street, waiting for a Metra Electric train, should have a South Shore train stop at their station, that’s going to their destination, and be told they can’t ride. We’re trying to increase transit ridership. This will help.

At this point, our work shifts to making sure our transit agencies don’t think small. We will be pushing at every opportunity for fast, frequent, reliable trains, with connecting inter-city buses, throughout Illinois. Our residents, institutions and businesses deserve nothing less.

All told, we are pleased with this legislation. It’s a true advance that will be good for Chicago, the suburbs and Downstate.