State Senator Don DeWitte (R-St. Charles) is inviting residents of northern Kane and southern McHenry Counties to attend one of two upcoming public meetings where residents can learn about and provide feedback into a proposal to re-establish intercity passenger rail service from Chicago to Rockford with intermediate stops planned in Elgin, Huntley, and Belvidere.
“The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is partnering with Union Pacific Railroad and Metra to provide expanded service that will connect Elgin, Huntley, and Belvidere to Chicago and Rockford,” said DeWitte, who serves as the Minority Spokesperson on the Illinois Senate’s Transportation Committee. “Especially for those who commute to Chicago or want to visit the new Hard Rock Casino or other venues in Rockford, this line will save riders a great deal of time since they will have a much shorter drive to their closest train station.”
Two meetings are scheduled in September to gather input on the proposal.
Elgin: September 17
4:00 – 7:00 PM
The Centre of Elgin
100 Symphony Way, Elgin
Huntley: September 18
4:00 – 7:00 PM
Huntley Park District
12015 Mill Street, Huntley
“Many people do not realize that passenger rail service was available between Chicago and Rockford via the ‘Black Hawk’ route in the 1970s and 1980s because that service ended before the population boom occurred in Elgin and Huntley,” said DeWitte. “Re-establishing this line with the necessary infrastructure improvements will boost economic growth in Kane, McHenry, Boone and Winnebago Counties and provide residents with easier access to public rail service. There is also the environmental benefit that would come from having fewer cars on the expressways.”
According to DeWitte, the Rebuild Illinois capital plan includes $275 million for the re-establishment of the line, including the following improvements:
- Track improvements to support increasing speeds from existing freight operations to passenger rail operations (up to a maximum of 79 mph).
- Construction of a connection between Metra and Union Pacific tracks at Big Timber.
- Station improvements at Elgin Station.
- A new control point with universal crossovers at Bartlett.
- Enhancing grade crossing surfaces, highway approaches, and warning devices.
- Evaluating bridge conditions as needed.
- Proposed siding near Marengo.
While early in the process, a current proposal calls for two round trips per day on the line, with an expected trip time of about two hours. The project timeline calls for a 2027 date for the start of service on the re-established line.
“I hope to see large turnouts at both of these public meetings and would encourage those who would use the service to help keep the project timeline on track by voicing their support and expressing the need for the service,” added DeWitte.
Additional information about the project can be found at: https://chicagotorockfordrail.org/.