SB3107 Summary

• Authorizes the Illinois Department of Transportation to enter into agreements with states, agencies, local governments, carriers, and public/private entities to provide intercity railroad passenger service within Illinois and throughout the United States.

• Grants IDOT authority to freely lease or contract for locomotives, passenger railcars, and rolling stock equipment to any state agency, public or private entity, or quasi-public entity.

• Permits IDOT to establish escrow accounts for railroad maintenance expenses and lease/use fee payments, with remaining balances transferred to a new High-Speed Rail Rolling Stock Fund at the end of each account's 20-year term.

• Creates the High-Speed Rail Rolling Stock Fund as a special fund in the State Treasury that may be used for any purpose related to locomotives, passenger railcars, and other rolling stock equipment.

• Prohibits IDOT from exercising eminent domain or directly operating railroad service with its own employees, and requires separate accounting to ensure commuter rail operations are not subsidized by intercity rail service costs.