41 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 7/10/18:

 

 

Continuing Amtrak Hiawatha fight, Glenview to pay for $160,000 train traffic analysis

 

 

 

The village of Glenview has hired a consulting firm to conduct a capacity analysis of passenger and freight rail lines as officials and residents continue their fight against the construction of a holding track as part of a proposed Amtrak Hiawatha line expansion.

 

 

Update

[CNJRoss]

Journal & Topics, Des Plaines, IL 9/10/18:
 

Rauner, IDOT Chief Call For Halt To Hiawatha Project For More Study

 

Tentative Plans For Community Meeting On Rail Plans Next Month At Glenbrook South

 

 

 

Gov. Bruce Rauner and top Illinois Dept. of Transportation officials called for a halt to Amtrak Hiawatha Line expansion project plans, which include building freight holding tracks in Glenview and Lake Forest, until concerns by the two towns are given more study.

 

“We have heard loud and clear the concerns expressed by Lake Forest and Glenview,” Rauner said in a written statement issued late Friday, Sept. 7. “We listened to you. Clearly, a timeout on this project is needed so you can get the answers you deserve. This project will not proceed until that happens.”

 

“We will be asking our project team to perform that analysis and do the necessary outreach so the impacted communities are more involved in the decision-making process,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 9/10/18:

 

IDOT slows down Amtrak Hiawatha project over community concerns

 

 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Sept. 7 that it will not allow a federal decision on the proposed Amtrak Hiawatha project to move forward until community concerns “have been adequately considered and addressed,” according to a news release.

 

 

This one

[KevinKorell]

Milwaukee, WI Business Journal,  9/13/18:

 

Illinois DOT 'will not allow' Amtrak's Hiawatha expansion to proceed over community concerns

 

 

 

Feedback from residents in Lake Forest and Glenview, Ill., and concerns from Illinois government officials has prompted the Illinois Department of Transportation to press the pause button on a federal decision to expand Amtrak's Hiawatha passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Chicago, which has a stop in Glenview.

 

 

 

That one

[KevinKorell]

Rails Tracks & Structures (RTS), 1/23/19:

 

 

Chicago suburb pays up to fight Amtrak Hiawatha project

 

 

Glenview, Ill., a village about 15 miles from Chicago, has reportedly approved spending a significant chunk of funding to continue its opposition efforts in regards to the proposed Amtrak Hiawatha project.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Milwaukee Business Times, 3/14/19:

 

 

Evers wants to expand Amtrak’s Milwaukee to Chicago Hiawatha service

 

 

Gov. Tony Evers wants to front the money needed to expand the Amtrak Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago to allow three additional daily roundtrips.

 

 

Details

[KevinKorell]

Milwaukee Business Times, 5/16/19:

 

Wisconsin, Illinois working on alternatives for expansion of Amtrak’s Milwaukee to Chicago Hiawatha service

 

 

Wisconsin and Illinois are now in talks to come up with alternatives to the planned expansion of Amtrak’s Hiawatha service after the Illinois Department of Transportation made known its opposition to certain aspects to the proposal.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Progressive Railroading, 6/10/19:

 

  Wisconsin lawmakers OK funds to expand Amtrak Hiawatha service  

 

 

The Wisconsin Legislature’s Budget Committee last week approved a $35 million proposed expansion of Amtrak service between Milwaukee and Chicago, a local radio station reported. 

 

Story

[CNJRoss]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/17/19
 

Amtrak Hiawatha introduces plan to increase Milwaukee-Chicago round trips

 

 

Amtrak Hiawatha plans to increase the number of Milwaukee-Chicago round trips from seven to 10 in the next five years, officials announced Wednesday.

 

Plans call for the addition of one round-trip in the next three years, followed by two more in the two years after that, according to Ray Lang, the senior director of national state relations with Amtrak.

 

The Hiawatha is the sixth busiest Amtrak route in the nation with over 858,000 passengers in 2018. The number of passengers is set to increase by 5.6% for 2019. 

 

Milwaukee-area residents won't be the only ones to benefit from the expansion. On July 1, Amtrak added a new bus service that goes from Green Bay to Milwaukee.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Urban Milwaukee, 5/29/20:

 

  Illinois Wins Grant That Will Benefit Amtrak Hiawatha Expansion  

 

 

A new federal grant to repair a railroad junction in Illinois will improve the on-time performance of the Amtrak Hiawatha Service and support its expansion from seven to 10 daily round trips.

 

Read