Update on Illinois High Speed Railway Commission’s May 2025 meeting

Illinois moves forward with first high-speed rail feasibility study in the Midwest

The Illinois High Speed Rail Commission is on track to publish an initial feasibility report for Governor JB Pritzker and the General Assembly in early 2026. The report will outline potential route options, governance structures, and benefits.

This is the first high-speed rail feasibility study in the Midwest. It can be a major step in creating a network of great, electrified trains that reconnect the region’s major cities.

The state is funding 100% of the study, which is being conducted to align with Step 2 of the Federal Corridor ID process—though it is not part of the program.

An overview of the study’s progress was provided to the Commission at its meeting on May 19, 2025.

Feasible right-of-way options

Quandel Consultants has studied many routing and right-of-way options for the Commission. The work is broken down into three sections:

• East St. Louis to Springfield
• Springfield to Joliet or University Park
• Joliet or University Park to Downtown Chicago

The Springfield – Joliet or University Park section included multiple combinations of station stops, which have been narrowed to:

• Springfield – Bloomington/Normal – Joliet
• Springfield – Peoria – Joliet
• Springfield – Decatur – Champaign/Urbana – University Park
• Springfield – Decatur – Champaign/Urbana – Joliet
• Springfield – Champaign/Urbana – University Park

Quandel analyzed multiple right-of-way options in each segment, including alongside existing railroads, within interstate highways, and new greenfield alignments.

Viable options for the Springfield – Joliet or University Park section were presented at the Commission’s May 2025 meeting.

Estimated travel times for railroad and highway options ranged from 2h 23m to 2h 53m.  Greenfield routings were not presented.

Ridership and Revenue

The consulting firm WSP is building a ridership model for the corridor. It will include feedback from in-person surveys taken at highway rest stops and on Amtrak trains. Airports refused access to airports for in-person surveys of airline passengers.

In addition to the in-person surveys, the Illinois Toll Highway Authority and state universities will help promote an on-line version.

City and Railroad Outreach

Quandel has done initial outreach to each of the cities with potential station stops. Another round of meetings to discuss potential station locations will be held soon. Quandel will also meet with each of the railroads that might be involved.

Public Outreach

Images Inc. is hosting an online-only public “meeting” that includes a quick video, a self-guided presentation, and a comments form.

As of May 19, 7,510 people had visited the “meeting,” which was promoted through advertising on trains and buses, billboards, and local media.

An online survey is available through May 31. As of May 19, more than 6,000 people had taken the survey. Additional public outreach events will occur through the end of the year. The online meeting can be accessed here: https://www.ilhighspeedrail.org/

The following work will occur through the end of December:

• Routing options will continue to be refined.
• Ridership and revenue estimates will be made for the remaining options.
• Potential investment and governance options will be developed.
• The Commission needs to define the feeder network and explain how it will support—and benefit from—the high-speed line.
• Additional  public meetings.

The final outcome will be a report outlining several options for building a new high-speed line. Gov. Pritzker and the Assembly will then need to fund further work on one or more of the options.

You can learn more about the meeting here:

https://idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/transportation-management/planning/rail/high-speed-rail-commission/meeting-information.html