Potential riders can speak up for Amtrak

By Thomas V. Bona

BusinessRockford.com

If Amtrak returns to Rockford, Kelly Goodmonson will use it a lot. She’ll take her kids to Lake Michigan in the summer and to Chicago’s shopping district around Christmas.

“My children love the train,” she said. “I hate traffic, and it goes right into Union Station.”

That’s the kind of support local leaders want to hear.

They announced today a new campaign to urge local residents and business leaders to push for the proposed Amtrak line from Chicago through Rockford to Dubuque, Iowa.

The Northwest Illinois Blackhawk Express was formed by civic leaders from Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena and Dubuque. It’ll collect signatures and send speakers to community groups to rally support.

Amtrak could return as early as November 2011 if funding is approved this year.

Leaders of the coalition say it’s a response to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, who called for clear community backing for the project. He told them last month that while he’s seen Rockford-area leaders in favor, he hadn’t heard it from potential riders — local residents.

People can sign the petition on the coalition’s Web site (bringrail.com) or through paper copies being passed around.

“It’s primarily to show support when people question Durbin about priorities on his docket,” said Steve Ernst, executive director of the Rockford Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Durbin initiated talk of restoring Amtrak here several years ago, and U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, also backed it, but the project has been delayed by funding issues. A state capital plan was supposed to be the primary funding source to upgrade the track, but that’s been stalled for a few years.

Now, the state hopes to get the money from the federal stimulus package, while the annual operating subsidy would come from the capital plan.

That’s a combined $60 million, Ernst said, and would possibly pay for several years of the service.

In the past, local leaders have said the track upgrades would cost $30 million and the operating subsidy would be about $5 million a year, but Ernst couldn’t say whether those were the exact numbers now. It’s possible that the stimulus money could fund more track upgrades to allow trains to run faster.

A strong local coalition could boost the project if state leaders decide to shift how to spend their stimulus or capital plan dollars. Einar Forsman, president of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, said the goal is to keep the Rockford/Dubuque route at the top of legislators’ minds.

Legislators say that work helps them secure future funds.

“This effort just gives them the ammunition to go to other key decision-makers in the government,” said Bryan Davis, Manzullo’s deputy chief of staff.

State Rep. Dave Winters, R-Shirland, said this is like state-supported service from Chicago to St. Louis, Carbondale and Quincy. It’ll start small, but if locals can fill the trains, it’ll expand quickly.

The coalition is working with existing groups — the Blackhawk Area Rail Coalition from the Galena area and Dubuque’s Ride the Rail organization.

“Our message is the same, our goal is the same,” Forsman said.

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

Rail projects defined
Amtrak: Once- or twice-a-day service between Chicago, Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena and Dubuque, Iowa. Less frequent, more comfortable and generally higher fares than commuter rail. Designed for day trips and weekend getaways to stops along the line, as well as longer vacations to cities in Amtrak’s system. Could start as early as November 2011. It would be run by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Commuter rail: Several-times-a-day service between Rockford, Belvidere, Marengo, Huntley, Elgin and Bensenville. More frequent, less comfortable and generally lower fares than Amtrak. Designed for daily commuters to and from Chicago suburbs. Would be on same line as Amtrak, though with more stops. Could start as early as fall 2013. It would be likely run by a local government body — the leading candidate is Rockford Mass Transit District.

High-speed rail: Not planned for Rockford area. True high-speed rail goes 125 mph or faster and is designed to connect cities 100 to 600 miles apart. Amtrak and commuter rail generally won’t top 80 mph because the distance between stations is less.