By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Passenger rail service is set to return to the city for the first time in more than 40 years.
Gov. JB Pritzker visited Davis Park in downtown on Thursday to announce a partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation and Metra to connect passenger rail between Chicago and Rockford. The first trains are expected to start running in late 2027 with expected stops in Huntley and Belvidere.
“This will be a game-changer for Rockford and Belvidere,” said state Sen. Steve Stadelman, a Democrat from Loves Park. “Restoring passenger rail service to Chicago has been one of my priorities and will spur economic development across northern Illinois.”
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The project is funded through $275 million the state’s Rebuild Illinois capital program.
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Passenger rail service through the Black Hawk route was discontinued in Rockford in 1981, and bringing the service back has been years in the making. Feasibility studies were conducted by IDOT and potential operators Metra and Amtrak starting in 2007. Gov. Pat Quinn announced $223 million in funding for the project in 2014, but it was put on hold a year later when Gov. Bruce Rauner took office.
“With this new service, we’re connecting more communities and creating greater opportunities for people across the stateline region,” Pritzker said. “From the hundreds of construction and engineering jobs created by our planned rail improvements to the increased economic growth that comes with heightened connectivity, all the way to the long-lasting reduction in pollution and traffic congestion that will stem from more efficient rail alternatives to driving, the new Rockford Intercity Passenger Rail service will have positive impacts that will strengthen northern Illinois for years to come.”
Mayor Tom McNamara said passenger rail will improve the quality of life in Rockford and help attract more visitors and residents to the city. He said it will also be another transformational project for downtown and southwest Rockford along with the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront Hotel, the Davis Park renovations, the Water Power Lofts, 301 S. Main St. lofts and the Barber-Colman redevelopment, which goes before City Council on Monday.
“There is transformation happening everywhere right now and it’s happening in front of our eyes,” McNamara said. “Passenger rail service will certainly make sure that this transformation, specifically in southwest Rockford, but all of Rockford, is on the fast track.”
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The project also includes improved grade crossings, upgraded bridges and double-tracking at various locations. Stations also will be built near tracks along downtown Rockford as well as in Huntley and Belvidere.
Travel time is anticipated to be less than two hours between the two cities, with two round trips per day planned.
The boarding locations in Chicago and Rockford, as well as a fare structure and schedule, are still to be determined.
The next step for the project involves reaching operations and maintenance deals between IDOT, Metra and Union Pacific, which owns the rail lines moving through Rockford. There are also engineering studies to determine the scope of track improvements needed to support increasing speeds from the peak of 40 mph for existing freight operations to 79 mph for passenger rail service between Elgin and Rockford.
“This is a major step for Illinois, bringing back the two largest regions of Illinois through passenger rail,” Metra CEO and Executive Director Jim Derwinski said. “It’s a major step for Metra as well, for us to journey outside our normal six-county region, but I would argue this is something we’re well-prepared to do.
“We’re created to serve communities, to connect communities, to bring people to the things that they love and the places they want to go. This is exactly what we’re going to do here in Rockford.”
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To reach Rockford, a connection ultimately will have to be built between Metra and the Union Pacific tracks in Elgin.
“The residents of this area deserve another mode of transportation between Chicago and the Rockford area with stops in between,” Union Pacific President and CEO Lance Fritz said. “It also allows freight operations to continue to this area, connecting consumers and markets to the world.”
State Rep. Dave Vella, D-Loves Park, said the project provides hope for the region’s progress. He said it’s time for people to start being optimistic about projects they once thought could never happen.
“We heard forever and ever we weren’t going to get to see a casino; we got the casino. We heard forever that weren’t going to get a train; we’re getting a train,” Vella said. “I’m done hearing from people that Rockford’s not going to get what we deserve, because we’re getting what we deserve.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas