Although Metra is moving ahead with plans to replace a century-old former Milwaukee Road bridge over the Fox River east of Elgin, state spokesman Guy Tridgell says, “The new infusion of funding will require us to re-engage with UP, Amtrak, and the local communities (for stations) on scope, budget, and schedule after the hiatus.” At this point, there is no federal funding attached and no service frequency plan.
Delays on the route have been the subject of a lawsuit dating to 2012 that Amtrak brought against CN for not running the Illinois trains on time, but it has been mired in court challenges that have extended all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. While specifics have not been disclosed, it is clear that some discussions have taken place between IDOT and CN regarding how certain delay-causing bottlenecks can be alleviated with some investment. What will be interesting to watch is whether on-time performance expectations will be a part of any deal.
New Chicago-Moline service: The city of Moline has already built the Centre Station multi-modal transportation facility serving the Quad Cities. Stimulus-funded improvements have been completed along BNSF Railway’s route west of Chicago also used by the Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg, Southwest Chief, and California Zephyr. Tridgell tells Trains News Wire that engineering and property acquisition have not been completed for a connection with Iowa Interstate’s ex-Rock Island tracks, which pass under the BNSF west of Wyanet.
“Negotiations with the railroad will proceed on the construction, operating, and maintenance agreements,” he says, but IDOT and Iowa Interstate have yet to discuss “scope, budget, and timelines,” which must be completed before the environmental process and preliminary engineering begin.
The appropriated $225 million is a match to a route-specific federal stimulus grant that is set to expire on June 30, 2019, but Tridgell says his agency, “is in active discussions with the Federal Railroad Administration,” and he “fully expects to have that extension in place prior to the expiration date.” However, he declines to estimate when service might begin to the Quad Cities.
