‘A lot of support’ for Amtrak route

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

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ROCKFORD —  If Amtrak returns to Rockford, Brady and Lila Thor will use it to get to both Chicago and Dubuque, Iowa.

They’d take day trips each way, the Rockford residents said tonight at a public hearing on the proposed route.

And they don’t care whether it stops in Belvidere or Genoa.

“As long as it comes to Rockford, I’m happy,” Brady Thor said.

About 60 local residents came to the open house to look at plans for the route, possible station locations and other information. They also made comments on the project, which could be funded by federal stimulus money.

“We heard a lot of support,” said George Weber, chief of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s bureau of railroads. Some questions were raised, mainly about station location, he said.

For example, representatives of Lena came to lobby for a station there, which isn’t currently in the plans. IDOT officials are considering their request.

Stations are planned in Chicago, South Elgin, Genoa, Rockford, Freeport, Galena and Dubuque.

Bill Pysson of Belvidere questioned whether there needed to be two stations in Rockford — one at South Alpine Road and one downtown. He didn’t think the downtown one would get enough use to be worth the money.

But he didn’t mind IDOT’s decision to put the route through Genoa instead of his city, since Amtrak’s study showed the Genoa route would cost less, be faster and draw more people.

“I think the facts really indicate that it’s better for all of us if it went the other way,” Pysson said.

IDOT is seeking $147 million for the project, which would include track upgrades, signal upgrades, trains, stations and other costs. If it gets the full amount, that would save local communities the millions of dollars it would cost to build stations themselves.

Weber expects to hear from federal officials this winter. He said the earliest the route could start would be 2012.

It would include one train each way a day, with the possibility of a second added eventually.

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

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