Passenger rail between Rockford and Chicago is on the move, now that the state has announced the hiring of a project manager.

Train service has widespread support. Elected officials – both Republicans and Democrats — and community leaders across northern Illinois met a few weeks ago via Zoom and learned the Illinois Department of Transportation has contracted with engineering professional services firm WSP USA to start the project. They, along with business and economic development officials, understand the immeasurable benefits for our region.

A few naysayers may choose to dwell on negativity that too often has limited our community’s potential, but this project is no fantasy: $275 million is being invested in our area’s transportation infrastructure to provide easy access to a city that’s the economic engine of the Midwest.

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner killed the project in 2015. Last year, I put passenger rail back on track by winning the support of Gov. JB Pritzker and securing funding in the state’s new $45 billion capital plan. People need to be aware that capital money is a funding source created for infrastructure projects and does not involve the state’s annual operating budget.

If Rockford doesn’t take advantage of this opportunity, I’m sure some other community would happily grab the money. Why would we not fight for our region and advocate for a major state investment?

This project is about transforming our economy, not just taking a trip to check out attractions in Chicago. Development follows transportation infrastructure. A study not long ago found nearly 14,000 “super-commuters” travel each day from the Rockford area to Chicagoland. Many more will choose to live here to take advantage of our affordable housing and take the train to work with convenient rail service, thereby increasing our property values.

Passenger service also will make our area more attractive to businesses looking ot locate near a major city and help local compaiens (as they always remind me) attract employees, espeicially younger workers who prefer to live in a bigger city. 

We also have attractions like Sportscore, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Anderson Gardens and the Coronado Performing Arts Center that will draw travelers here. As a matter of fact, I received an email only days ago from a Chicago woman who regularly visits the Rockford Art Museum and looks forward to being able to make the trip more effortlessly by train.

I believe COVID-19 makes passenger rail service even more necessary. With more people working from home and no longer needing to commute every day, they’re choosing to live outside Chicago where home spaces are larger and prices are lower.

The state’s hiring of a project manager means engineering and environmental analysis and eventual track upgrades can begin. Much work remains ahead, including the selection of an operator, most likely Metra or Amtrak. But make no mistake: Passenger rail is far too important for northern Illinois to be sidetracked by partisan or election-year politics.