Leaders weigh pros, cons of 2 Amtrak routes

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

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ROCKFORD — If Rockford gets Amtrak service back, it’s likely to be one train each way daily starting in 2012, and it’s likely to be on a route through Genoa.

But local leaders hope to quickly get a second Amtrak train a day, and there’s a chance it could go through Belvidere.

The idea of two routes came up at a meeting late last month between local and state officials and rail advocates.

Federal stimulus money could fund the primary route, from Chicago through Genoa and Rockford to Dubuque, Iowa. But money earmarked for rail upgrades in the state capital plan could then be used for the stretch that goes through Belvidere. That route would use the same tracks between Rockford and Dubuque.

“It would provide two round trips a day, rather than one, which is something everyone wanted from the outset,” said Steve Ernst, executive director of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for
Planning. “You’re getting two different markets, and the increase in passengers would be more than you’d get on two trips on one of those routes.”

It wouldn’t dilute service, he said, because most passengers would still get on or off in Chicago, Rockford, Galena or Dubuque, and those stations would be served by both.

And he believes that investing the money on two sets of tracks would bring a better return than just putting more money on one route.

The federal stimulus package could fund up to $147 million in track and signal upgrades, along with stations and trains. That would get the Genoa route up to a target of 79 mph.

“That’s really the key speed that gets you to be competitive with the automobile,” Ernst said. “The way we see the dollars falling out, ... we have enough money to do 79 mph in all the corridors. None of the corridors would be sacrificed.”

Higher speeds are more important for longer routes with stops farther apart, like the Chicago-to-St. Louis route, Ernst said. On the Rockford route, trains couldn’t reach much higher speeds before having to slow for the next station.

But one key concern is whether state officials would even fund a second route. About $150 million in the state capital plan is earmarked for passenger rail, and if stimulus money comes to Illinois, that money could go to more projects than planned.

“If we allow the Genoa route to go forward, (state officials) will then say, ‘You guys already got rail in Rockford, and we can use that someplace else that would be brand-new service,’” said
Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland, who is on the House’s Railroad Industry Committee. “They’re not going to double up. It’s feasible they would, but I don’t think it’s realistic.”

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton is pessimistic that both lines would be upgraded.

“Obviously we’re disappointed (that the Genoa route was chosen), but we’ll continue to support the region,” he said. “We were cautioned that even selecting one route, there is no guarantee that it will be funded. It’s hard to think that we will get two rail lines.”

Brereton and other leaders will meet soon, though, to discuss how to proceed on separate commuter rail plans. A commuter rail line would go from the Chicago suburbs through Belvidere to Rockford, but it’ll be harder to start without the Amtrak investment on the same line.

George Weber, railroads bureau chief for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said it’s early in the process to say how likely two Amtrak routes are to get funded. But he said the two routes would complement each other rather than overlap; the trains would operate on different schedules to give passengers more options.

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at tbona@rrstar.com or 815-987-1343.

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