Illinois officials on Tuesday played host to the first of four public meetings designed in part to update folks on the $275 million restoration of passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago coming in 2027.
Another mission of the event was to reassure skeptics that this is for real, said Scott Speegle, IDOT Passenger Rail Communications Manager.
“Most of the work over the last year has been more behind the scenes,” Speegle said. “Preliminary engineering, working on agreements with the railroads and with the communities involved, diagnostics to determine what is needed to improve the tracks and the grade crossings. So we’re advancing the project, and we’re still on track for a 2027 service launch.”
Plans are for construction to begin by the end of 2025. The 90-mile Metra intercity service from Rockford to Chicago will have stops in Huntley, Elgin and Belvidere. It’s possible that the first phase of construction will be to connect Metra-owned tracks to Union Pacific- owned tracks at Big Timber.
Track, crossing and grade improvements will be needed in addition to new train stops in Belvidere and Rockford. The precise location of Rockford’s station has not been announced, but it will be located along the Union Pacific tracks just west of Main Street.
More: Now boarding: Everything you need to know about Rockford’s new Metra line to Chicago
Once operational, there will be two round trips offered daily with travel times of an estimated 2 hours. Passenger trains will reach maximum speeds of 79 mph. Ticketing processes, pricing and details have not yet been determined.
State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Loves Park, said construction funding for the project has already been allocated as part of Gov. JB Pritzker’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan.
Still, many people he talks to are taking a believe it when they see it attitude.
“The skepticism people have in this community — I understand that, you don’t see anything tangible as far track improvements — but starting next summer in 2025, you are going to see shovels in the ground and track improvements actually taking place,” Stadelman said. “This is real but there is skepticism, so it’s important for IDOT … to let people know what has been going on the past year. Things are happening, work is progressing.”
The next open house-style meeting is planned from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at the River Edge Recreation Center, 1151 W. Locust St. in Belvidere.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Construction on Rockford to Chicago passenger rail to begin in 2025
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