SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Completion of work to relocate rail routes through Springfield, as well as building of a new transit center to be used by Amtrak, will be pushed back after the project did not receive any federal funding in 2023, the State Journal-Register reports.
The U.S. Department of Transportation turned down a $138 million grant request for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, the newspaper reports. This mean conclusion of work including the consolidation of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rail lines into a single corridor, which had been projected for 2025, will be pushed back at least a year. A new transportation center will also be delayed. Sangamon County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter said the delay would increase the cost of the project by an estimated $10 million to $20 million, bringing the total price to close to $500 million. Work on the project began in 2014.
Van Meter said DOT did not indicate why the project did not receive funding but the county may learn more at a meeting in early 2024 for grant applicants who did not receive funding. “At some point, when we apply again, there will be an opportunity to get any advice they may have about our previous application and any changes we need to make,” he told the newspaper.
More on the Springfield project is available at its website.
Springfield is NOT on the Nothing Else Counts. How DARE they ask for more money! (Que the clip from “Oliver” of Bumble exclaiming “MORE?”)
Do we understand that the bypass is not in use yet by the UP and NS freight trains? If so, what is needed to complete that part? In the meantime restore the second track thru the station to far enough south of Cook Street to store 1 or 2 train sets. That way the station is closer to the Capitol and almost hourly service to CHI can happen once freight is off the old route thru the station.
All I know is that the current Amtrak route through the center of Springfield is crazy: crossing many busy streets, all at grade crossings.
I never thought much of this project. It does nothing for rail passengers but has been pushed by connected locals who have taken NIMBYism to new heights.
Restore the second track through the station and rebuild the platforms and all will be well.
If locals hate the railroad that much, they can pony up the millions to move the tracks east a half mile.
The article begins with “Lack of federal grant….” Nothing gets built in this country without a federal grant. What we need to do is to reduce the role of the federal government.
Of course that will never happen. The state of Illinois and its constituent counties and municipalities are required to balance their budgets, counting borrowed or fiat federal money as “revenue”. Which is legalized accounting fraud.
Maybe what needs to happen is for the federal government to declare BK. By any legitimate accounting principle, the federal government already is BK, covering its debts by borrowing or printing more money. Then start over with a federal government with a third the number of employees, each earning less money and benefits. And actually reporting to the office in Washington, rather than “working” from home in posh Maryland and Virginia suburbs.
When I was a student at U-Michigan in the late 1960’s, we were taught that it was Washington’s responsibility to cover Detroit’s lack of resources compared to its needs. I thought it was Michigan’s responsibility. Michigan was, and is, required to balance its budget.
The map is confusing. Where’s the old route compared to the new one?
Actually John I do not believe they improved the UP tracks within Springfield. Yes the signaling because of the Fed’s requirement for any tracks carrying passenger rail and freight but otherwise not speed wise.
Springfield was the first (or one of the first) track segments to get new rail and concrete ties back in 2008. There wasn’t much choice in the matter, as the track structure was sunk down in the mud and required serious attention. UP had to coordinate the project with the city, as all of the grade crossings had to be raised and rebuilt to match the new track height. This extensive project lasted for weeks and necessitated Amtrak and UP detours on the CN/IC and Illinois & Midland between CN Connection south of Iles interlocker and Ridgely Tower.
All because running UP rail through the center of town became inconvenient for legislators. Horns, vibration and traffic. just after they upgraded the UP route for HSR, now they rip it out to move it. Effective use of dollars.
Springfield has to be one of most neurotic anti-rail cities in the country. They have been agitating for this rail consolidation since the 1950’s. The $500 million price tag for this project is just ridiculous. The grade separations will be helpful, but there is no need for all the extra infrastructure. NS train counts are a third of what they were 15 years ago. UP runs most of its intermodal trains in the middle of the night. They should have spent the $500 million for more Chargers and Venture cars to run more frequent conventional trains. Even with new 110-mph train schedules, it is still faster to drive to St. Louis on I-55 than to use the train.