Illinois Fast Track Initiative

Let’s get Illinois unstuck.

Issue in Brief

We need fast, affordable, and reliable ways to get around.

To attract dynamic businesses and keep young graduates and families here, Illinois needs to connect its universities, business centers and tourist attractions to each other and to O’Hare.

That means a statewide plan to connect all of our cities to each other with fast trains and more frequent buses.

The Issues

There are many proposed expansions that, if completed, would connect the entire state and new federal funds are available to build them..

The Obstacles

The state lacks a plan to coordinate the projects and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s budget is too small to provide the state match.

Get Involved

See the Projects

Learn what should be in the plan

Sign the Petition

Tell Springfield that you want good trains.

Download a sample letter

Get your mayor to sign a letter or your council to pass a resolution

A map of existing and potential passenger rail routes in Illinois.

What would we get?

  • Fast, frequent and affordable trains linking cities throughout the state to each other, and to Chicago, Springfield and St. Louis. Catch a train in the morning, arrive in time for a 9:00 am business meeting, then be back home for dinner.
  • Modernized Metra “Regional Rail”
  • Fast, easy access to O’Hare, the Midwest’s gateway to the world
  • Expanded transit systems throughout the state
  • Enhanced bus links to smaller communities

 

Current Status

The good news is that the state has a long history of investing in passenger trains, including Amtrak, Metra, and the South Shore.  And, the official state rail plan lists most of the projects needed to connect the state.

What’s missing is a coordinated phasing plan and the funding to build it.

The station at Dwight IL with an Amtrak train in the background.

A new station at Dwight and new locomotives were built in the first phase of the Chicago – St. Louis Corridor Improvement project.  photo: Rick Harnish

Sign the Petition

Tell Springfield that to connect our cities with fast trains.

What needs to happen?

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Finish Existing Projects

New service to the Quad Cities and Rockford; and improvements to the Champaign and Springfield routes are quick wins.

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Make a Plan

The Illinois High Speed Railway Commission is charged with developing the plan.

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Fund the Plan

The legislature will need to address transit funding in 2024.  Statewide improvements should be in the mix.

A woman is boarding an Amtrak Surfliner in Oceanside, CA

An Amtrak Surfliner at Oceanside, CA.  photo: Rick Harnish

Who has done this before?

California has been investing heavily in passenger rail, intercity buses, and local transit since 1990.  They published the first integrated rail plan in 2018.

The visionary California rail plan will produce a stunning increase in ridership and revenue.

Learn more about the CA rail plan

How You Can Help

Send a Message

Let Springfield know you want trains,

Learn what should be in the plan.

And feel free to give us feedback.

Get a local government to endorse

Download a sample letter you can give to your mayor or council.

Join Us

Join us to help make it happen.