Stadelman-powered rail commission readying to board
State Senator Steve Stadelman has passed legislation clarifying the governor's discretion to appointments to the Illinois High Speed Railway Commission. Last year, Stadelman passed legislation to establish the commission to develop a statewide plan for a high-speed line connection Chicago and St. Louis with existing Amtrak and Metra services integrated into the system along with restored passenger service between Chicago and Rockford.
With the clarification approved before the Illinois General Assembly adjourned this month, commission members should be named from among key stakeholders in the coming months. Once formed, the commission is expected to conduct a ridership study and make findings and recommendations concerning a governance structure, frequency of service and implementation of a statewide rail plan.
In 2020, Stadelman secured $275 million in capital funding to bring back passenger rail between Chicago and Rockford. Planning and engineering are ongoing.
IDOT resumes U.S. 20 resurfacing
Construction is scheduled to resume Monday on U.S. 20 from Falconer Road to Simpson Road, continuing a two-year project to improve this 6.5-mile section of highway. Traffic lanes and shoulders in both directions will be resurfaced along with entrance ramps at Montague and Meridian roads, according to State Senator Steve Stadelman.
A lane closure in each direction will be in place through the $12 million project's expected November completion.
Over the next six years, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to improve more than 3,535 miles of highway and 9 million square feet of bridge deck as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program, which is investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation. Accomplishments through Year Two include approximately $5.2 billion in improvements statewide on 3,020 miles of highway and 270 bridges.
View local construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map at GettingAroundIllinois.com.
In case you missed me on Facebook ...
Steve Stadelman
April 20 at 12:37 PM
Two local companies are in the final four of the "Coolest Thing Made in Illinois" contest! Both "Fruit by the Foot," produced by General Mills in Belvidere, and the Orion Spacecraft Capsules aft Bulkead, Barrel and Tunnel, made by Ingersoll in Rockford, are in the final round of "Makers Madness. You can vote for the coolest thing made in Illinois through April 24 at this link:
https://makersmadnessil.com/cast-your-vote/.
Another Rockford company, Obsidian Manufacturing Industries, was a Top 16 finalist for making the "Power-Grip LB-7Gx2 Lift Magnet." Congrats to all !!!
