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Plans for LaSalle commuter rail to take next step

Posted January 11, 2008 10:00 pm

Catherine Hopkins

LaSalle County can launch into the second phase of planning the Illinois Valley Commuter Rail System.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Morris, announced this week that $250,000 has been appropriated for Phase II.

"We're hoping the next phase gets under way by the end of the summer," said Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach. "This study will offer more detailed information on ridership estimates to see who will actually ride the train, the source of funding for the project, and the environmental impacts."

The city plans to hire consultants to complete the study.

The project would link western LaSalle County with Joliet's METRA station, which would then link to Chicago. It would plan for stops in Channahon, Minooka, Morris, Seneca, Marseilles, Ottawa and Utica.

A Phase I study was completed in 2003 and took six months. "It showed that it was feasible and there were no red flags," said Eschbach.

"It's a slow process but these things don't happen without federal assistance, and there's no chance for New Starts money from the Federal Transit Association unless we get all our ducks in a row," he said.

The project is estimated to cost $161 million, but Eschbach believes interconnecting the cities with the rail system would give the economy a boost. "We imagine it'll bring in a lot of investment," he said.

"And it's good for the community as fuel gets more expensive and congestion gets worse fighting traffic on I-55."

Once Phase Two is complete, it could possibly roll on to Phase Three.

"That study would probably be going into more detail about the costs of traffic equipment, stations, signaling and operations scheduling,"

Eschbach said. "And it'll also offer more insight into the funding source."

While the process may be slow, Eschbach is focused on the goal of getting the rail system up and running.

"It may be another eight to 10 years before we see a train on the tracks," Eschbach said. "But we'll get the rail system in place."

Reach Journal Star reporter Catherine Hopkins at (309) 686-3041 or state@pjstar.com.

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