IL HR0374

Supports Illinois Department of Transportation's feasibility study with Amtrak for a new east-west passenger rail corridor connecting Moline/Rock Island to Danville via Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, and Champaign/Urbana.

Study to analyze ridership potential, capital costs, and operating costs for the proposed route with two round-trips per day and service facility requirements at corridor endpoints.

Route to provide connections with existing Chicago-St. Louis, Carbondale, and Quincy passenger rail corridors.

Amtrak study to include analysis of express bus service modeled on California's Thruway service, with connections at Normal to Chicago-St. Louis trains, single-ticketing, and baggage check options.

Amtrak expected to begin study in summer 2013; Illinois House of Representatives encourages IDOT to continue feasibility efforts.