Illinois Department of Transportation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2010

CONTACT:
Josh Kauffman (IDOT) 217.558.0517
Guy Tridgell (IDOT) 312.814.4693

Southern Route Chosen for Cost, Ridership, Safety, Performance

CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced the selection of the proposed southern route for Amtrak’s new Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque service from Chicago’s Union Station to downtown Rockford. The $60 million service will create 650 construction jobs, with trains running by early 2014.

“Illinois is committed to creating jobs and promoting economic development by linking our cities, businesses and universities through passenger rail,” said Governor Pat Quinn. “The selection of the southern route does the best job of accomplishing those goals safely and cost effectively.”
The selection of routes was based on an independent study by the Decatur office of URS Corp., one of the country’s top engineering design firms. The analysis showed that the southern route through Genoa will require a $26.2 million investment in upgraded infrastructure between Chicago and Rockford. Similar improvements on the proposed northern route through Belvidere would cost $62.3 million, raising the total cost of the route to more than $96 million. The study also determined an estimated annual ridership of 76,357 on the southern route compared to 54,988 on the northern route.

Safety was another deciding factor in the study. The southern route will cross 143 roads and highways. The northern route would cross 176. The southern route also will see fewer delays using only two railroads, while the northern route would require using four railroads. The full report can be viewed at www.dot.il.gov/DPIT/Chicago-Rockford%20Route%20Analysis%20Report%20FINAL%20101208.pdf

“The southern route offers the best deal for travelers and taxpayers,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said. “After much deliberation, we are excited to start service to an underserved part of the state.”

The Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque line marks the return of passenger rail to the Rockford area for the first time since 1981. Trains will run at least one round-trip daily between Chicago’s Union Station and Dubuque, with stops in Elgin, Genoa, Rockford and Galena.

Click on the following to see the original:   Illinois Department of Transportation

Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque Line Marks Return of Passenger Rail to Rockford.

No Belvidere.

Trains will run at least one round-trip daily between Chicago’s Union Station and Dubuque, with stops in Elgin, Genoa, Rockford and Galena.

selection of routes was based on an independent study by the Decatur office of URS Corp., one of the country’s top engineering design firms. The analysis showed that the southern route through Genoa will require a $26.2 million investment in upgraded infrastructure between Chicago and Rockford. Similar improvements on the proposed northern route through Belvidere would cost $62.3 million, raising the total cost of the route to more than $96 million. The study also determined an estimated annual ridership of 76,357 on the southern route compared to 54,988 on the northern route.

. The full report can be viewed at www.dot.il.gov/DPIT/Chicago-Rockford%20Route%20Analysis%20Report%20FINAL%20101208.pdf

Click on the following for the full story:  Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque Line Marks Return of Passenger Rail to Rockford.

Logli Pharmacy Offers Free Prescriptions

 

The pharmacy has seven different classes of antibiotics and about ten different prenatal vitamins all for free. Patients do not have to be low income; all they need is a prescription from a doctor.

Click on the following for more details:  Logli Pharmacy Offers Free Prescriptions

AP Enterprise: FAA loses track of 119,000 aircraft

 

FAA says it is worried that criminals could buy planes without the government's knowledge, or use the registration numbers of other aircraft to evade new computer systems designed to track suspicious flights. It has ordered all aircraft owners to re-register their planes in an effort to clean up its files.

Up to now, owners had to register their planes only once, at the time of purchase. The FAA sent out notices every three years asking owners to update their contact information if needed, but there was no punishment for not doing so

Click on the following for more details:  AP Enterprise: FAA loses track of 119,000 aircraft - Yahoo! News