WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation has obligated more than $157 million in funding, allowing construction to move forward on the final phase of the Springfield (Ill.) Rail Improvements Project.
The project involves relocating some rail lines from Third Street to 10th Street in the state capital, as well as several grade-crossing separations. The final phase will complete realignment to consolidate Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern routes into one multitrack corridor, advancing efforts for a higher speed passenger route, and will also see construction of a new Multimodal Transportation Center serving Amtrak, as well as local and intercity bus service.
The funding involves a federal CRISI (Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements) grant announced last October [see “FRA awards $2.4 billion …,” Trains News Wire, Oct. 29, 2024].
“The Springfield Rail Improvements Project is dramatically changing downtown Springfield by reducing rail congestion, creating jobs, and improving safety for passengers, drivers, and pedestrians,” said U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in a press release. Added Sen. Tammy Duckworth, “This federal investment will go a long way in helping us build a new multimodal transportation center, improve efficiency for passengers traveling between St. Louis and Chicago and support good-paying jobs while making Springfield safer for pedestrians and drivers.”
More on the project is available at its website.
Reminds me of the 1970’s or 1980’s project to move Conrail (and Amtrak) onto GTW at Battle Creek, Michigan. Amtrak got a new station on the GTW alignment, while downtown Battle Creek was freed of tracks.
Small trivia: While CPKC is not directly impacted by this rail project, they have trackage rights on the CN/I&M joint line up 19th Street to Clearlake Ave. (CP Avenue) CN maintains the Stanford Ave connection which allows CPKC to reach the CN yard at Avenue.
Do not know the details. How is the Springfield High school being mitigated to prevent students from crossing the tracks?
Um, obey the crossing signals?
North Grand Avenue will be elevated over the NS and Illinois & Midland diamond. This was a major problem at times, especially when the I&M would bring a very long coal drag from the south during school events.
Also, the UP route is being moved to a new route up 10th Street after it breaks away from the NS route. The State of Illinois just tore down a huge part of the IEPA building on Grand, so the UP relocation can be slightly elevated so IDOT can lower Grand Avenue for a new viaduct.
This will relieve Springfield Lanphier High School of their rail bottle necks on both the east side and west side.
The city and school district has begged NS and I&M not to bring long consists through on Friday evenings in the fall due to the massive backups around football games, either just before or just after.
An I&M coal drag got a red signal just north of the high school where it crosses the UP (former Alton) and it sat for 2 hours and it caused a massive traffic backup across the north side of Springfield.
On the NS side, this is their main line between Kansas City and Detroit, so they get long auto parts (was Triple Crown) consists. If they have a consist come through at the same time and they get blocked, the issue on Grand (and several ground level crossings) also blows up.
The project also combines the UP and NS line in downtown with viaducts for auto traffic. This will facilitate the removal of the former Alton line in downtown. This has the Amtrak station and it will be moved to a new multi modal center on the new route.