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Last year, Blagojevich doubled funding for state-sponsored passenger
rail in Illinois' partnership with Amtrak, more than doubling the
number of daily round trips on downstate routes. "Taking the train
is safe, convenient, affordable and helps reduce congestion,"
Blagojevich said. "Here in Illinois we've seen double-digit
increases in our annual passenger rail ridership numbers, and just
this past fall we added even more state-supported train routes to
give people more options."
For fiscal 2006, which ended last June, a total of 955,529
passengers took state-sponsored trains, an increase of more than 11
percent from the previous year, also marking the second year in a
row in which all state-sponsored routes set ridership records.
House Bill 4344, sponsored by state Rep. Kathleen Ryg, D-Vernon
Hills, and state Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, allows Illinois to
join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact, an association
of member states that works to promote improvements and long-range
planning for interstate passenger rail, as well as to coordinate
interaction between Midwestern state officials and the public and
private sectors. Currently, seven other states are members of the
compact: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North
Dakota and Ohio.
"Illinois is stepping up to the plate and recognizing the
importance of making sure we have a strong network for passenger
rail. It's efficient, reduces congestion and is good for the
environment," said Ryg. "It is essential that Midwestern states work
together on a coordinated strategy as we seek to improve interstate
rail passenger service and build upon our regional network, and I
thank the governor for his leadership in signing this bill."
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 "Transportation issues are a priority and will become an even
greater priority in the future for the Midwest, and especially
Illinois, which is considered the crossroads of the nation," said
Munoz. "It's important that we join the MIPRC to coordinate our
efforts with our neighbors in seeking improvements to rail passenger
service that will benefit us all."
In 2006, Blagojevich and members of the Illinois General Assembly
doubled the state funding to Amtrak for passenger rail service in
Illinois to $24 million, second only to California. The increase
more than doubled the state-sponsored rail service on downstate
routes. The expanded service started Oct. 30 and came after news
that all four of the state-sponsored Amtrak routes posted record
ridership levels for state fiscal year 2006.
"Governor Blagojevich and lawmakers are providing people here in
Illinois with more opportunities to take the train, and in many
communities passenger rail is the only form of public
transportation," said Illinois Department of Transportation
Secretary Timothy W. Martin. "Passenger rail is a vital part of our
transportation system, and working together with other Midwestern
states will help it to improve in the future."
[News release from the governor's
office]
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