16 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

 

 

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s executive order puts Huntley Amtrak project on hold

 

A $223 million plan that puts Huntley along a revived Amtrak passenger rail line has been derailed until Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner completes his review of all major state construction projects.

http://www.nwherald....abdtnvz/?page=1

[KevinKorell]

Chicago, IL Tribune, 2/9/15:

 

Plan for Amtrak service from Chicago to Rockford on hold

 

 

A plan to restart Amtrak service between Chicago and Rockford is on hold.

More

 

Another item in the same publication, same day:

Rauner puts hold on new Amtrak service, Huntley proceeds with station plan

 

Gov. Bruce Rauner's decision to freeze discretionary state spending and bar agencies from awarding contracts without administration consent puts a hold on Union Pacific and IDOT and their agreement with Huntley for a railway stop along the way from Chicago to Rockford.

 

Read this

[steve4031]

Democracy fail. This kind of mess is a national disgrace.

[CNJRoss]

WREX-TV (NBC) Rockford, IL 2/18:
 

State lawmakers: 'The rail to Rockford is not dead'

ROCKFORD (WREX) - In a meeting this afternoon with state lawmakers, the Illinois Department of Transportation Acting Secretary of Transportation gave an update to the Amtrak project that would connect Chicago to Rockford.

 

According to State Rep. John Cabello, who was one of the lawmakers in the meeting, IDOT Acting Secretary Randall Blankenhorn said, "The rail to Rockford and other communities is not dead, but they are taking a step back and taking a breath to look at all projects."

 

Cabello said Blankenhorn, who was appointed by Rauner and not yet confirmed by the Senate, did not elaborate on what looking at the overall project involved.

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Rockford, IL Record-American, 2/20/15:

 

Chicago-Rockford train not alone in Rauner’s Amtrak cuts; Senate committee meeting scheduled

 

The Chicago-to-Rockford Amtrak line initially scheduled to arrive this year is not the only one in jeopardy as Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget calls for $16 million in cuts.

 

Before Rauner took office, $42 million in subsidies were set to improve Amtrak services between Chicago and Carbondale. With that subsidy trimmed to $26 million, riders in St. Louis, Quincy and Milwaukee would see fewer trains.

 

 

This story

[KevinKorell]

Regional Daily News, 2/19/15:

 

Amtrak hopeful they will weather the storm after Rauner proposes cuts in aid

 

You'll hear fewer train whistles at Amtrak stations in Illinois under Governor Rauner's budget plan. Rauner wants to roll back state spending on Amtrak by $16 million. That would lead to cuts in the Chicago to St. Louis and Chicago to Carbondale corridors. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari says the light rail service isn't pressing the panic button....

 

I strongly doubt that Mr. Magliari referred to Amtrak as "light rail service".   Read here.

[CNJRoss]

The Courier-News, Elgin, IL, 2/27:
 

Scores demand that Elgin-Huntley-Rockford Amtrak plan be put back on the rails

 

The planned train even has a name — the Black Hawk. But will the long-debated Amtrak service from Chicago through Elgin, Huntley and Belvidere into Rockford and eventually Dubuque ever become reality?

 

When new Gov. Bruce Rauner presented his cost-cutting budget two weeks ago, his answer was an emphatic "not yet." Rauner said that some $223 million in railroad upgrades and station building that would be needed to start the service as Gov. Pat Quinn had promised a year ago should be put on hold until the state's troubled finances become clearer and all such non-essential projects are re-examined.

 

SNIP

 

But as the state Senate's Transportation Committee held a special hearing about the subject in Rockford on Wednesday, an estimated 100 to 200 people showed up to demand that the project be lifted back onto the rails. Those attending included Huntley Village President Charles Sass, whose village already has spent thousands of dollars in planning a new train station to serve the route.

 

Read more here.

[CNJRoss]

WTVO-TV - WQRF-TV, Rockford, IL, 3/19:
 

IDOT Says Amtrak Project In Rockford May be Derailed

 

SPRINGFIELD -- Local lawmakers say it appears the state is leaning towards putting the brakes on possible Amtrak service to Rockford.

 

In a reply to state representative John Cabello, IDOT officials said there is a possibility it may be terminated. Lawmakers say it's clear former Governor Quinn never actually allocated any money for it   .   .   .

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

Illinois Capitol Fax.com:

 

Rockford worried about losing hoped-for Amtrak service

 

Thursday, Mar 26, 2015

* Rockford has been hoping that a new Amtrak service could boost its local economy by drawing suburbanites further west. But that project is on hold for now…

 

Amtrak representative Ray Lang met late Wednesday afternoon with [GOP Rep. John Cabello of Machesney Park] and other members of the House Public Safety Appropriations Committee. Lang told the lawmakers all expansion projects are on hold for the foreseeable future.

 

“I asked him if Amtrak is coming to Rockford, and he said, ‘No,’” Cabello said. “They are federally and state funded. When their funding goes down, they have to live within their means, unlike us.”

 

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey said the issue is not dead.

 

Continue here.

[CNJRoss]

WNIJ (NPR) news, DeKalb, IL, 3/25:

 

 

Fate Of Rail Service To Rockford Up To State, Amtrak Says

The decision on whether passenger rail service will come to Rockford as proposed depends on the State of Illinois, not on Amtrak.

 

“The currently proposed service to Rockford would require state support,” Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told WNIJ News in an e-mail. “The state will decide how much service it will contract with Amtrak to provide.”

 

Magliari responded to reports that Amtrak representative Ray Lang told the House Public Safety Appropriations Committee that Rockford will not get Amtrak passenger rail service any time in the near future.

 

Continue here.