Chicago Quad Cities

Welcome!

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Project Description

Purpose » Re-establish the passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities as part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MRRI) » Increase regional mobility, reduce roadway congestion, meet future travel demands, and provide an affordable alternative mode of transportation Funding » Federal award of $177 million in High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) funds » State matching funds of $45 million Activities » Continuation of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) studies » Preliminary engineering for a corridor expansion program

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Project Infrastructure Improvements

New Stations » Moline » Geneseo Layover Facility » Rock Island Existing Rail Yard Improvements » Eola » Silvis Second Main Line Track » Between Rock Island and Silvis Yard Purchase of New Rail Equipment » Selected Manufacturer-Nippon Sharyo USA Group, Rochelle, IL Communication and Signal Enhancements

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Project Benefits

Economic Outcomes for the State of Illinois » Direct and indirect job creation » Generation of business revenue » Travel cost savings » Increased tourism opportunities Transportation Connectivity and Access » Creates connections to the Chicago and Quad Cities business hubs » Increases regional mobility » Addresses future travel demands » Provides comfortable, safe, affordable, and convenient travel option Reduction of Impacts to the Environment » Fuel efficient transportation option » Promotes energy independence » Reduces greenhouse gas emissions

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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is federal legislation used to address the growing concern about the condition of the environment and about what man-made actions are doing to it. It is intended to: » Establish national policy regarding the environment » Require documentation of potential environmental impacts of any federal action » Allow for open disclosure to the public and for public input » Provide the decision-maker with a “reasoned” choice among various project alternatives The NEPA process entails: » Determining what need must be addressed » Identifying alternative ways of meeting the need » Analyzing the environmental impacts of each alternative » Deciding which alternative to pursue and how to pursue it

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National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

NEPA documentation may consist of: An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) » Used for projects where a significant impact is anticipated » Will include preparation of a notice of intent, a scoping process, preparation of a draft, and selection of a preferred alternative » Leads to a Record of Decision (ROD) An Environmental Assessment (EA) » Used to determine whether or not an action will significantly impact the environment » Leads either to developing an EIS or to a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) A Categorical Exclusion (CE) » Used for a category of actions, which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant impact on the environment » Does not require the preparation of an EA or EIS

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Preliminary Engineering

Preliminary Engineering (PE) is the analysis and design work to produce construction plans, specifications, and cost estimates. » Developed concurrently with the environmental documentation » Considers potential environmental impacts » Brings plans to 30 percent complete Activities include: » Designing track alignments » Creating station location plans » Defining bridge modifications » Conducting engineering surveys and a traffic analysis » Developing a finance plan » Confirming local funding commitments » Refining construction schedules and costs

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Corridor Map

Wisconsin

Lake Michigan

Iowa Chicago Naperville Quad Station Union Cities La Grange Station Station Geneseo Plano Station Station Mendota Moline Station Station Princeton Station Proposed Track Connection (Wyanet, IL)

LEGEND

Existing Amtrak Station BNSF Rail Road Illinois Proposed Amtrak Station IAIS Rail Road

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Get Involved!

Numerous opportunities are available to become involved in the re-establishment of the Chicago to Quad Cities service:

» Public Information Meetings » Project Website » Newsletters

Visit www.connectthemidwest.com for additional project information and to comment on the Chicago to Quad Cities Project. Contact Us If you have questions or comments about the project, please visit the project website or contact us at: Illinois Department of Transportation Todd A. Popish Rail Program Planning Section Chief 312-793-3507 [email protected] James R. Thompson Center 100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 6-600 Chicago, IL 60601-3229

www.connectthemidwest.com Project Timeline

Fall 2011 Spring 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 NEPA Process Public Public Construction and Preliminary Meetings Updates Complete Engineering Begins

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Winter 2013 Summer 2014 Fall 2015 Procurement Public Meetings Phase 1 NEPA Construction Underway Return of Process for New Train and Preliminary Intent to Award Passenger Sets Begins Engineering Issued for Train Sets Service Complete

Initiate Final Design

www.connectthemidwest.com Eola Yard Improvements

LEGEND

Illinois Passenger Rail Improvements National Register of Historic Places Site DuPage County Forest Preserve District Site Illinois Natural Area Inventory (INAI) Site

www.connectthemidwest.com Rock Island Layover Facility, Moline Multimodal Station & Silvis Yard

LEGEND

National Register of Historic Places Site

www.connectthemidwest.com Wyanet Connection

LEGEND

Waterways State Park Illinois Natural Area Inventory (INAI) Site