Transportation needs met in Rockford
Transportation needs met in Rockford
by Carol Henrichs
Rockford is clearly a transportation winner in 2007.
Not only has the Chicago/Rockford International Airport (RFD) received IDOT’s designation "Primary Airport of the Year" but Amtrak officials have just announced that a route has been selected for passenger rail service between Chicago to Rockford and on to Dubuque, Iowa.
A 182-mile corridor owned by the Canadian National Railroad was chosen as the best route for restoration of passenger service between the three cities.
Service was halted in the late 70’s when the Rock Island Railroad halted operation.
The route would be the least expensive to upgrade for passenger service. It is believed the $32 million expenditure would offer the best potential for numbers of riders, according to a study performed by Amtrak and IDOT.
The line is expected to be operated either by Amtrak or Metra, which already runs between Rockford and Elgin.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo will champion the project in Congress.
The necessary improvements could be made in two or three years.
The travel time between Chicago and Rockford is expected to be about two hours. From Chicago to Dubuque, it would be a five hour trip.
RFD officials are pleased with the state designation "Primary Airport of the Year." It is an award given to airports that achieve at least 10,000 passengers in a year. The designation makes RFD one of just 12 airports in Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics awarded the designation.
Director Susan Shea said the selection of RFD was based in part on recent improvements to air passenger and cargo facilities there. It also took into consideration the good maintenance of the facility, preservation and enhancement of airfield safety as well as good community relations.
Rockford officials gave credit to the Greater Airport Authority board and airport staff.
"The award is another sign that state officials are taking notice of the airport’s growth," said Airport Executive Director Bob O’Brien.
O’Brien says the award continues to raise the visibility at Rockford. And that can translate into the airlines that Rockford officials continue to talk to about added service.
Last year, the award went to Marion/Williamson County. In 2005, Peoria won it.
Categories: Peotone airport, Chicago-Rockford International Airport, South Suburban Airport
Carol,
I found this interesting, did Weller have no idea things were in his own backyard until U.S. News actually came here & "ranked Will County gridlock as a startling eighth-worst county in the nation for average commuting time to work..." I wonder if he has ever driven down Rte 50 or Rte 1 on W & E boundary of his beloved SSA?
How good that Weller's "Every conversation... with Democrat County Executive... Walsh and Republican... Chairman... Moustis includes a discussion of a needed transportation project." That "needed transportation project" must be the "you know what" airport that ranks right behind Chicago/Rockford International Airport as "the state's
Primary Airport of the Year" according to IDOT's aeronautics division director, Suzy Shea.
To "work in a bipartisan way to bring more federal... highway dollars to... Will County," Weller's gonna have to wake up Durbin & meet Obama along the campaign trail to get the Dems attention.
Will Weller find money to widen Route 1 to six lanes if Beecher "gets about 45,000 trucks" entering or leaving Crete's Centerpointe intermodal yard every day?
With the knowledge that (in various ways) the Illiana Expressway has been around since Burnham's 1909, Plan of Chicago, how can Weller be hopeful that the U.S. DOT "will designate the project as a 'Corridor of the Future'"? He's dealing w/ a SSA that's barely older than he, & an Expressway that is nearly in its 2d century of planning.
On "improvements to U.S. Route 30... the people of Frankfort, New Lenox, and Mokena have waited for years [for]promised matching funds to get... $11.2 million... [&] the project is finally moving forward..." Need i again mention, EWC waiting for 39+ years, while watching Illinois spend appx $115+ million, & still no SSA? Nah!
Reply to this
Have you considered adding video to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained?
Reply to this