Passenger rail service through LaSalle County is feasible, according to a study that looked at connecting Peoria and Chicago. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says it may take more than a decade and up to $3 billion to get it started.
At the same announcement in Utica today, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that there’s $310,000 for the North Central Illinois Council of Governments to study the logistics—such as where to put train stations. NCICG Executive Director Kevin Lindeman says that’ll take a year to a year-and-a-half.
The time for the study and the subsequent development aren’t dampening Ottawa Democratic St. Rep. Lance Yednock’s excitement.
The feasibility study includes potential train schedules with stops in Peru or LaSalle, Utica, Ottawa, and Morris. It would take a little over two-and-a-half hours to go from Peoria to Chicago or vice-versa. Ottawa to Chicago would be less than an hour and 20 minutes. The study also examines the answers people gave to a survey about passenger rail several months ago.
Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood talks about the passenger rail study at Utica Village Hall Thursday, July 21, 2022
St. Rep. Lance Yednock spoke about riding passenger trains at Utica Village Hall Thursday, July 21, 2022