Politics & Government

Huntley Misses Out on Amtrak Route

Illinois Department of Transportation decides on route with Genoa, Elgin stops.

Huntley will not be included on Amtrak's new Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque route, Illinois Department of Transportation officials said Friday.

IDOT chose an alternate route that includes Elgin, Genoa, Rockford and Galena, according to a release the agency issued.

"I am very disappointed," Trustee Harry Leopold said, adding, "we have absolutely no idea" why an alternate route was chosen.

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Huntley's village board launched a petition that gathered 3,000 signatures and worked with local representatives to lobby for a northern route. Huntley officials also met with IDOT about the route on multiple occasions.

"They assured us on at least three occasion the route would be coming through (Huntley), the only thing that remained to be resolved was when it would start," Leopold said.

Find out what's happening in Huntleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Leopold was just as surprised as anyone else to hear IDOT's decision.

State officials "reversed their decision once so may they will reverse it again if we will continue to lobby for Amtrak service to the village of Huntley," the trustee said.

He said the village will continue talking to local representatives and lobby IDOT.

State officials said the $60 million service would create 650 construction jobs. The trains will begin running by early 2014, according to the release.

IDOT officials said safety and cost were factors in deciding on a southern route versus a northern route that would have included Huntley. A study of the two routes was conducted by

the Decatur office of URS Corp.

The southern route will cross 143 roads and highways while the northern route would cross 176 roads and highways, IDOT officials said. Additionally, the southern route would utilize two railroads while the northern route would utilize four railroads, leading to more delays, officials said.

A route through Genoa would require a $26.2 million investment in upgrades, IDOT said in the release. The investment for a northern route would require $62.3 million, officials said.

Ridership was also a consideration.  The URS Corp. study estimates the Genoa route would have an annual ridership of

76,357 compared to 54,988 on the Huntley route.

"The southern route offers the best deal for travelers and taxpayers," Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said. "After much deliberation, we are excited to start service to an underserved part of the state."

Gov. Pat Quinn, who initially favored the northern route, weighed in on the decision Friday.

"Illinois is committed to creating jobs and promoting economic development by linking our cities, businesses and universities through passenger rail," Quinn said. "The selection of the southern route does the best job of accomplishing those goals safely and cost effectively."

The Chicago-Rockford-Dubuque line marks the return of passenger rail to the Rockford area for the first time since 1981, the release said.


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