Durbin, Manzullo Bring Amtrak Officials to Rockford to Discuss Feasibility Study Results with Regional Leaders

Press Release

DURBIN, MANZULLO BRING AMTRAK OFFICIALS TO ROCKFORD TO DISCUSS FEASIBILITY STUDY RESULTS WITH REGIONAL LEADERS

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) today brought regional leaders together for a briefing on a new report that evaluates possible Northwestern Illinois Amtrak routes between Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa, via Rockford.

"In July we held a meeting that showed us that Northern Illinois communities are committed to bringing Amtrak back to the area," Durbin said. "Today, we have a feasibility study that shows us that adding rail service along the Chicago to Galena/Dubuque corridor will give businesses and tourists a time-competitive and convenient alternative to the Northwest Tollway rush hour.

"Amtrak already provides quick, cost-effective and reliable public ground transportation to 30 communities in the state—it's time to add communities in Northwest and North Central Illinois to that list," Durbin concluded.

The "Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service," was requested by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) following a July 2006 town meeting held in Rockford. Durbin, who hosted the meeting, was joined by Manzullo, Amtrak and IDOT representatives, labor officials and community leaders from Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, DeKalb and Ogle Counties to discuss restoring Amtrak's passenger rail service in Northwest Illinois.

"With the completion of this report, we are now closer than ever before to restoring Amtrak service to Rockford and Northwest Illinois," Cong. Manzullo said. "Daily passenger train service to Chicago will give our residents another great transportation option and bolster economic activity throughout northern Illinois. I want to thank Amtrak for completing this study, and I look forward to working with Sen. Durbin, our state officials, and our local leaders to make this new train service a reality."

The report identified three possible routes from Chicago to Dubuque. Capital costs vary by route and the annual operating cost for any of the three routes is estimated at less than $5 million, based upon a single daily round-trip frequency. Excerpts of the report are attached, and you can download a copy of the executive summary at http://www.dot.il.gov/amtrak/amtrak.asp

"We appreciate all the effort that Amtrak has put into gathering the data assembled in this report," said IDOT Acting Secretary Milt Sees. "This is a good first step, and gives us some of the information we need as we move forward and work with local communities, their elected leaders and Sen. Durbin to determine the best course of action."

Nearly 100,000 cars travel on I-90 daily between Rockford and the Kennedy-Edens split in Chicago, Durbin said. "The region is ripe for an expansion of passenger rail service. Residents of this region want to be able to take a quick trip to Chicago by rail and they'd also like to be able to tap into Amtrak's network via its Midwestern hub," Durbin said. "Similarly, Chicagoans would like the opportunity to travel to Galena - the state's second most popular tourist destination - by rail."

According to the report, Chicago-Rockford travel times of about two hours and Chicago-Dubuque travel times of less than 4.5 hours are possible and would be competitive with drive time, depending on the choice of routes, agreements with host railroads and required infrastructure improvements. Amtrak estimates two construction seasons would be needed to make the infrastructure improvements necessary to achieve these travel times.

The last passenger train service through Rockford and Freeport to Galena and Dubuque was operated from February 14, 1974, through September 30, 1981, using the CN (former Illinois Central or Chicago Central) route. At that time, IDOT contracted with Amtrak to operate the daily round-trip train known as the Black Hawk.

"Many parts of the country lost rail passenger service in the 70s and 80s," said Alexander Kummant, Amtrak President and CEO. "With partners such as the State of Illinois - and with the support of Sen. Durbin, Cong. Manzullo and others - the Rockford area can again have the economic and environmental advantages of Amtrak service.

"We look forward to taking the next step, which would involve negotiations with host railroads, development of detailed capital plans and funding requests," Kummant added.

Last month, IDOT asked Amtrak to deliver another feasibility report, this one to study state-supported service to the Quad Cities (including Rock Island and Moline, Ill.,), which has never been served by Amtrak trains and which lost its passenger rail service in 1978, when the Rock Island Railroad discontinued operations. The findings of the study are expected by year's end. The IDOT request is the result of a meeting Sen. Durbin held several weeks ago in Rock Island, where public support was heard for a return of passenger trains to the region.

About Amtrak: Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Excerpts: "Feasibility Report on Proposed Amtrak Service" (Rockford)

The general population growth along the eastern portion of this corridor has been strong over the past decade, but passenger train service formerly provided by Amtrak ceased in 1981. Highway traffic volumes on Interstate 90 (Northwest Tollway) between Chicago and Rockford are significant; with frequent backups the closer one gets to Chicago. Rockford is a major residential and commercial center and the largest metropolitan area in Illinois without passenger rail service. Between Rockford and the O'Hare Airport area, many new residential developments have been established. Further west, Galena is a significant destination city for tourism, especially during the summer and fall. At Dubuque, there is an aggressive plan underway to redevelop the downtown property along the Mississippi River.

Following receipt of the study request, a number of alternative rail routes were identified as candidates for this service. Physical evaluations of the routes were conducted with host railroad personnel, including inspections, assessments of capital needs, and identification of operational challenges. Revenue/ridership forecasts were determined based on recommended schedules, and estimates of cost to operate the service were developed. The goal was to prepare a high-level and objective report of the findings, in response to IDOT's request, for further discussion.

Three alternative routes were identified as potentially feasible for establishment of Amtrak service between Chicago and Rockford, with only one route being practical between Rockford and Dubuque. Each requires a different level of capital investment to make the service a practical reality.

Although there have been general discussions and field inspections with the host freight railroads, the specific infrastructure improvement proposals, draft schedules and other railroad-related comments have not been negotiated or agreed to with the host freight railroads and reflect only the findings and best judgment recommendations of the study team. Should further progression of one of the alternative proposals be desired, detailed discussions and negotiations will have to be initiated with those rail carriers (emphasis added).

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