Village Trustees To Review Metra Line Extension Study

Huntley Village leaders tonight will review the results of Metra’s Marengo Extension Commuter Rail Feasibility study that considers connecting train service from Elgin to Huntley and Marengo.

Metra finished the informational report nearly one year ago, but village officials only received a copy of the study late last year.

Village trustees will examine study results during their regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. at the Huntley Municipal Complex, 10987 Main St.

In its research, Metra considered the possibility of extending the Milwaukee District West Line from the Big Timber station in Elgin westward.

Key points in the study, according to the documents received by the village, include:

• Substantial upgrades to the train track, ties, signals, sidings and other equipment would be needed to accommodate commuter rail service.

• The McHenry County Conservation District owns property on both sides of some areas of the tracks. An extension would require coordination with MCCD to locate stations.

• Proposed service would have 10 weekday trains, four inbound during the morning hours and four outbound trains during afternoon/ evening hours. There would also be one inbound and one outbound train around noon.

• Metra would require land dedication – about 13 acres - and a commitment to fund construction of the station and parking facilities by the host community. All costs associated with land acquisition, design and construction of the stations would be the host community’s responsibility.

•  Estimated capital costs for the extension in 2007 was $348.5 million, which did not include property acquisition and operating costs, the village documents said.

Additional scrutiny may determine the extension is “not operationally viable or even desirable,” the report states.

So far, research about potential ridership for the train service has never been conducted.

The study, for now, is basically for informational purposes.

Huntley staff members, in their recommendation to the village board, would like to meet with Metra’s new executive director to get more information about the railroad’s future plans.