 "High-speed rail is coming to Lincoln and Logan County," said
Snyder. "If we don’t proactively address all of the issues
surrounding high-speed rail, we may get stuck accepting what we are
given. If there are alternatives that would benefit Lincoln, we need
to identify those and actively promote those to our elected
representatives, regulatory authorities and the railroad."The
goals of the committee are threefold:
-
Develop
recommendations on crossings, on the locations of additional
grade separations and on other crossing safety measures.
-
Develop
recommendations for sight, sound and safety screening between
crossings in Lincoln.
-
Develop recommendations for the number
and timing of station stops.
Darren Forgy, a Lincoln resident and an engineer employed with
Hanson Professional Services in Springfield, will co-chair the
committee along with Snyder. In addition, 13 other members will
serve on the committee: Marty Neitzel, who chairs the city’s streets
and alleys committee; Mark Mathon, city engineer; Mark Miller,
interim fire chief; Ken Greenslate, police chief; Terry Carlton,
Logan County Board chairman; Dan Fulscher, director of Logan County
Emergency Management Agency/911; David Lanterman, downtown business
and property owner; Lisa Kramer of Prairie Engineers of Illinois;
and representatives from Main Street Lincoln, the Lincoln & Logan
County Development Partnership, Lincoln College, the Abraham Lincoln
Tourism Bureau, and the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce.
[to top of second column] |
The committee will have a series of meetings from November
through January 2011. A public information session is planned for
February.
In early March the committee will present its findings to the
Lincoln City Council and the Logan County Board and will solicit
letters of support from community members and organizations. By late
March, the committee hopes to present its plan to legislators,
planners, regulatory bodies, Union Pacific Railroad and others.
[Text from news release from Lincoln
Mayor Keith Snyder]
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