Thank you for your December 29, 2013 regarding commuter rail and/or expansion of the Metra line as part of the Illiana Corridor.
The Illiana Corridor is being studied due to a lack of east-west transportation routes in the Study Area and a demonstrated need for additional transportation capacity. Subsequent to an analysis of planning forecasts showing the current and projected growth in population and employment, Indiana and Illinois have partnered to perform the necessary project studies.
An initial evaluation of the various transportation modes, identified by project stakeholders, and the ability of those modes to meet the project Purpose and Need as stand-alone alternatives was performed. The analysis is discussed in the project Illiana Corridor Transportation System Performance Report (TSPR). The TSPR is available online at http://illianacorridor.org/pdfs/feis/app_a.pdf. It was shown through analysis, that rail freight, passenger rail, commuter rail, intercity bus and commuter bus do not have the ability to meet the project Purpose and Need as stand-alone modal alternatives, and therefore, not considered further in the Tier One EIS. Projected 2040 population and employment densities are not sufficient to support circumferential (east-west) rail transit in the Study Area. Additionally, analysis of existing passenger and/or commuter train/bus operations are outside the scope of the Illiana Corridor EIS.
We encourage your continued interest in the Illiana Corridor project and participation in the public involvement process. The most current information is available on our website:
Why not just rebuild NS’s 3-I/ Kankakee Belt line? It ran between South Bend IN and Zearing IL, and would connect most of the main lines coming in to Chicago from both east and west while missing the metro area well south of there. Most of the track in Illinois is still there, the main exception being the Illinois River bridge and about ten miles of track west of there, though the right of way and smaller bridges are all intact on the west side of the river. Most of the track in Indiana would need to be restored. But that is still far cheaper than the almost all new right of way they are advocating.
Although I believe Dwight’s idea of providing a low cost loan or an outright grant to rebuild NS’s 3-I/ Kankakee Belt line and/or some additional improvements to the EJ&E are both good ideas, the problem is long and chronic overcrowding of the I 80/94/90 bottlenecks. Improving rail service is not going to magically remove the short to medium haul trucks. And there are no “Chicago $$$” in the Illiana corridor, not even close. Snarky “hate Chicago” comments by folks who know nothing of the area contribute zero to a discussion.
The only problem I can see with the EJ&E is it may not be far enough outside of the city to help, and people living there were already upset about the CN reroutes. Another benefit for the Kankakee Belt would be the scant population and lack of NIMBYs, I grew up about ten miles from it and still know people back there, it goes through very quiet Putnam county, the smallest in the state and I would guess that the complaining there would be minimal. Kankakee and Streator are the largest cities, and frankly Streator would be ecstatic about any crumbs they got.
The main purpose would be to give an outlet for traffic to/from the UP Global IV and BNSF’s intermodal terminal southwest of Joliet. That’s why the highway doesn’t continue west (or north) beyond a connection with I-55.
As always, there are people who have legitimate bones to pick and resolve with the planners: people who will be losing part or all of generations-old family farms, other landowners, townships and counties who lose taxable properties with no near-term prospects for returns. But as someone who has traveled portions of I-80 often through here, I can see where there would be a problem with still more trucks.
A rail line, probably the old EJ&E, could probably accommodate a lot of the slack, especially if connections were made to eastern railroads from CN at Wellsboro and Valpo (or Van Loon, but that’s a stretch). But having a radial commuter link in a corridor further out isn’t really very promising, even if the Peotone Airport (talk about boondoggles!) were to be built.
You’re right, Jim…and I don’t think MC’s statement was posted out of “hate” so much as it was with a “knowing smile”. And for us regional residents (hey, I actually lived in Chicago for three whole months!), it doesn’t matter whether we know the fact or the rep.
Finally, you can’t have a job like MC’s without repeatedly coming in contact with the reputation and the facts. (Pat and I know for a fact that both MC and BH have been in the city, 'cause we were right there with them!)
My point was simply that he clearly stated the reason rail was not being considered in the Illiana plan was that there were no dollars in it for Chicago. While I am well aware of pay-to-play corruption in Chicago (and the suburbs and downstate and statewide in Illinois (and many other states as well) his statement was simply wrong, probably because he doesn’t really know the geography and political fault lines.
Keep trying schlimm, plenty more windmills to tilt at.
It may be your “hood”, but I’m there plenty enough. Sorry.
(I’m the dirty boots out on the ground trying sort out the mess, my employer has most of its staff in IL (including 2 Chicago Offices - I think there is a handle on “politics” or we wouldn’t be there). The company has me back there regularly for their ongoing * projects (Carl is aware of at least one plus the three headed monster just barely in the state next door close to a favorite diner of his) I’ve watched some well respected people at IDOT, last of their breed, take the buyout [-instead of a pay cut] and leave. I cringe watching IDOT try to hire someone back of their caliber , 12 months later, for peanuts. (dumb - hasn’t worked so far…)
PS Carl: Will be there in September at AREMA with BH (PatFest2?)…* one of those is for Peotone and the Lil’ Orphan Airport nobody wants.(What is it with airports and railroads there?)
I tend to agree with schlimm, we native Illinoisans get tired of the corruption allegations, just look at New Jersey if you want corruption. Most eastern Metro areas are horse traders. Yes we know that roughly 50% of our governors since 1968 have been in jail at one time or the other, it just means we are more efficient in catching them[Y].
Don’t take those comments about Chicago politicians personally. This case happens to be about Chicago, but this kind of thinking applies to politicians everywhere.
LOL, I just today had a chance to look at the newest issue of Trains, and there is a map of exactly the area we were talking about. BTW, Bill Metzger is to be complimented on the inclusion of the Rutland, Toluca and Northern RR on the map, I didn’t know anyone was aware that it ever existed outside of those in the area. If you have ever seen a video of two steam engines crashing together it most likely was the one they staged on the RT&N, that boneheaded stunt to sell tickets at the time of liquidation cost several people their eyes.