Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Feasibility Study PREFACE This report has been prepared for the City of Ottawa and the other Members of the Steering Committee comprised of: Nine municipalities: · City of Joliet · Village of Minooka · Village of Channahon · City of Morris · Village of Seneca · City of Marseilles · Village of Utica · City of LaSalle · City of Peru Two counties: · Grundy County · LaSalle County And the: · Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Public Transportation (IDOT-DPT). This report is a feasibility study to evaluate the potential of commuter rail service utilizing existing active railroad right-of-way between the City of Joliet and the Cities of LaSalle/Peru, and includes commentary, survey data, conceptual plans, cost estimates and other supporting documentation. The Study Team would like to acknowledge and thank all of those involved with this study who provided both information and strong support. August 2003 i Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Feasibility Study TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Existing Conditions ......................................................................................5 2.1.2 Assessment of Future Plans and Conditions ..............................................5 2.1.3 Potential Improvements ...............................................................................6 2.1.4 Potential Ridership .......................................................................................6 2.1.5 Financial Feasibility......................................................................................6 2.1.6 Next Steps ....................................................................................................7 2.2 Intergovernmental Agreement ....................................................................................7 2.3 Historical Background .................................................................................................7 2.3.1 Historical Chronology of the Railroad ..........................................................7 3.0 Documentation of Existing Conditions.....................................................................12 3.1 Alignment Description...............................................................................................12 3.1.1 Railroad Corridor from Joliet to LaSalle/Peru............................................12 3.1.2 Track ..........................................................................................................12 3.1.3 Roadbed.....................................................................................................13 3.1.4 Sidings and Switches.................................................................................13 3.1.5 Authority for Train Movements and Line Signals ......................................13 3.1.6 Grade Crossings and Warning Devices ....................................................13 3.1.7 Structures...................................................................................................14 3.1.8 Joliet Union Station ....................................................................................14 3.2 Compatibility of Freight & Commuter Rail ................................................................14 3.3 Freight Railroad Operating Characteristics..............................................................14 3.3.1 CSX Freight Traffic ....................................................................................15 3.3.2 Iowa Interstate Railroad’s Freight Traffic...................................................17 3.3.3 Illinois RailNet’s Freight Traffic ..................................................................18 3.4 Existing Public Transportation Services ...................................................................18 3.4.1 Pace...........................................................................................................18 3.4.2 GREAT Transit System..............................................................................21 3.4.3 Amtrak ........................................................................................................22 3.4.4 Greyhound and Burlington Trailways ........................................................23 3.4.5 Act II Transportation...................................................................................23 3.4.6 City of Ottawa.............................................................................................23 3.4.7 Starved Rock Rocky Trolley ......................................................................24 3.5 Alternative Public Transportation..............................................................................24 3.6 Socioeconomic Characteristics ................................................................................24 3.6.1 Population ..................................................................................................25 3.6.2 Major Employers ........................................................................................26 3.7 Surrounding Land Use..............................................................................................28 August 2003 ii Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Feasibility Study 3.8 Environmental Features Adjacent to the Right-of-Way............................................29 3.8.1 Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company (MHZ) site ................................29 3.8.2 Illinois and Michigan Canal........................................................................30 4.0 Assessment of Future Plans and Conditions..........................................................32 4.1 Projected Future Freight Operations and Improvements.........................................32 4.1.1 CSX Transportation ...................................................................................33 4.1.2 Iowa Interstate Railroad .............................................................................33 4.1.3 Illinois RailNet ............................................................................................34 4.2 Projected Socioeconomic Growth ............................................................................34 4.3 Projected Land Use ..................................................................................................34 4.3.1 Joliet ...........................................................................................................35 4.3.2 Minooka ......................................................................................................37 4.3.3 Channahon.................................................................................................38 4.3.4 Morris .........................................................................................................39 4.3.5 Seneca.......................................................................................................40 4.3.6 Marseilles ...................................................................................................40 4.3.7 Ottawa........................................................................................................41 4.3.8 Utica ...........................................................................................................42 4.3.9 LaSalle .......................................................................................................43 4.3.10 Peru............................................................................................................43 4.3.11 Will County .................................................................................................44 4.3.12 Grundy County...........................................................................................44 4.3.13 LaSalle County...........................................................................................46 4.3.14 Will County Center for Economic Development........................................46 4.3.15 Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce...............................................47 4.4 Roadway Improvements ...........................................................................................47 4.4.1 IDOT District One.......................................................................................47 4.4.2 IDOT District Three....................................................................................48 4.5 Regional Projects that Could Impact a Potential Illinois Valley Commuter Rail Service ......................................................................................................................49 4.5.1 Union Pacific-West (UP-W) Line Extension to LaFox, Elburn ..................50 4.5.2 Metra SouthWest Service (SWS) Enhancement and Expansion .............50 4.5.3 Elgin Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) ................................................................50 4.5.4 Kane/Kendall County Extension ................................................................50 4.5.5 Heritage Corridor .......................................................................................50 5.0 Potential Improvements ................................................................................................52