SPRINGFIELD – May 22, 2009.  Governor Pat Quinn joined state legislators and transportation officials today to seek support from the Illinois General Assembly to match President Barack Obama’s historic commitment to high-speed passenger rail and make it a reality in Illinois.

 

“I’m asking the legislature to follow President Obama’s lead and invest in the growth and efficiency for transportation in Illinois by appropriating funds in the capital bill needed to make high-speed rail a reality,” said Governor Quinn.

 

The St. Louis-Chicago route is the signature high-speed rail route for Illinois.  A state investment for high-speed rail will allow for reduced travel times and more round-trips scheduled each day.

 

“We will take full advantage of the federal resources President Obama’s leadership has made possible, but more must be done,” said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig.  “We hope to receive the support of the legislature to move this plan forward and get travelers to their destinations safely and faster than driving.”

 

Under The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), President Obama has made $8 billion available nationwide for high-speed passenger rail, the largest investment that the federal government has made in over a decade. In addition, President Obama has allocated $5 billion over the next five years toward a high-speed rail grant program.

 

To fully leverage the federal money, Illinois needs approximately $400 million in additional state funding for high-speed rail from the capital bill. A total investment of $2.7 billion for the St. Louis-Chicago corridor could create and retain approximately 24,000 jobs.

 

Earlier this month, representatives from the Quinn administration alongside U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced an agreement between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Union Pacific Railroad to develop the plan for high-speed passenger rail between Chicago and St. Louis.  The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is the first of its kind in the country.  Under the MOU, Union Pacific and IDOT will develop a rail infrastructure and safety plan to outline how passenger trains will operate safely at 110 mph and UP’s freight trains will operate safely and efficiently.