ROCKFORD – Anyone interested in learning more about passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago is encouraged attend an Amtrak Town Hall Meeting hosted by Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman.

Stadelman, a Rockford Democrat, has invited Illinois Department of Transportation experts to give a 45-minute report on the status of the $223 million project. A question-and-answer session will follow.

"Passenger rail service to and from Chicago holds tremendous potential for economic growth and enhanced quality of life in the Rockford area," Stadelman said. "The public is excited about the prospect of a rail link with Chicago, and I think it is important to keep the public fully informed and to involve as much public input as possible."

Construction is expected to begin in October 2014, with one daily round trip anticipated to be running by the end of 2015, two daily round trips by the end of 2016 and eventual service to Dubuque, Iowa. Amtrak will provide the restored Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) service from Chicago to Rockford, using Metra & Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

Track and bridge upgrades, increased capacity, a layover facility, a UP/Metra connection and new stations – including one in Rockford -- are among the improvements being funded through Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program.

IDOT Project Manager Elliot Ramos will lead an overview discussion of Amtrak service and preparation work before fielding questions with Senator Stadelman and other transportation, engineering and municipal representatives.

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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman's (D-Rockford) measure allowing the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to make grants for safety and security improvements to various public K-12 school districts and area vocation centers was signed by the governor.

"This plan increases safety and ensures that our K-12 schools are adequately prepared in the case of an emergency," Stadelman said. "Now, IEMA can make safety grants to K-12 schools just as they can for colleges and universities."

IEMA wanted the ability to issue grants schools providing K-12 education and inter-district special education cooperatives.

Upon learning of this, Stadelman sponsored a measure to allow IEMA to issue safety grants to schools. Like the safety grants to institutions of higher education, the funding would come from the Illinois Bond Fund.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois School and Campus Safety Grant Program awarded funding to Winnebago County schools and colleges to improve school safety and security. Local schools are set to receive more than $48,000 for the projects.

"This is an excellent opportunity to improve local schools and the safety of our children," Stadelman said. "The safety grants are possible because of the work we have done to ensure that students in K-12 deserve a safe learning environment just like those in higher education."

Earlier this year, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) sponsored a measure that allows the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) to make grants for safety and security improvements to various public K-12 school districts and area vocation centers as well as colleges and universities.

ROCKFORD – Illinois Senator Steve Stadelman announced last week that he is directing $35,000 in state funding toward a new roof for the Nordlof Center, a dime-store-turned-theater donated to the Rockford Public Library less than two years ago.

Library trustees are considering two bids to replace the roof at the former New American Theater on North Main Street, which the library uses for cultural and arts programming, computer instruction and meeting rooms. The state funding, available under the Build Illinois capital development program, would cover at least half of the replacement cost.

"The library has a solid plan for fully utilizing this public asset, and it makes sense for the state to absorb half of this unforeseen roofing expense," said Stadelman, D-Rockford. "This grant protects the public and private investments that have been made in the building so far and allows the library to finish converting the space."

Private owner Richard Nordlof made several improvements before donating the building in late 2012. "As the longtime home of New American Theater," Stadelman said, "there's a lot of nostalgia and good will associated with this facility, and it remains a unique venue in an important downtown location."