Statement Of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Following Springfield Rail Meeting

Statement

Following a meeting this morning regarding how to route high speed passenger trains and increased freight trains through the City of Springfield, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin issued the following statement:

The group assembled today included every major decision maker in this debate, namely the two railroads that own and operate the track and the city and county officials that have voiced objections to some of the plans on the table. We had a frank and constructive discussion which led to some notable progress on two separate and distinct issues with regard to rail in Springfield: high speed passenger rail and increased freight traffic. We agreed at the onset of the meeting that we all share two goals.

First, we agreed that we cannot miss this opportunity to make high speed passenger rail a reality in Illinois. We also agreed that Springfield, our capital city, must be a part of that reality. With a federal deadline approaching in just 3 weeks, we have a great deal on the line and it is no exaggeration to say that the state's entire high speed passenger rail proposal is at stake.

Second, we share the goal of limiting freight traffic running through the City of Springfield.

The agreement we reached today is this: to pursue high speed passenger rail along 3rd Street and to conduct the study called for by Mayor Davlin and Chairman VanMeter to examine the feasibility of moving additional freight traffic to 10th Street. We also agreed to meet again soon and to discuss the specifics of that study. I believe this agreement is the best possible outcome for the City of Springfield and the State of Illinois.

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