 Snyder said the committee has looked at issues to present to
policymakers and lawmakers in order to make a difference. They have
received favorable response from the railroad and transportation
authorities for their forward thinking."We want them to know that
Lincoln is speaking with one voice, that the city council and other
community organizations were on board also," the mayor said.
Forgy said the committee first sought information from the
Illinois Department of Transportation, the railroad, passenger rail
service and other sources, and then began looking at what issues
high-speed rail would create in the community.
Passenger trains would increase from eight to 10 per day. The
speed of trains and ridership would also increase.
Freight trains on the Union Pacific Railroad line would increase.
Currently six freight trains per day pass through Lincoln. Those are
projected to increase to 22 per day in six years, and the trains
would nearly double in length to over a mile long, Forgy said.
Seven of the nine crossings in Lincoln would become "high-grade
crossings." These crossings would have quadraplex gates that close
when the train passes through.
Currently, when a passenger train passes through, the gates are
down 35 seconds. With high-speed trains the gates would be down six
times longer. This equates to six times the traffic delays we have
right now affecting business, public and emergency motorists.
Recommendations include two new underpasses in town for "grade
separations." There are already two in town -- one at the north end
of Kickapoo Street and one at the south end at Lincoln Parkway.
Subject to studies, the committee is recommending that two new
underpasses be created.
One would be located where there is no crossing at Wyatt Avenue
and would connect to Third Street or Union on the other side. This
would improve traffic flow, especially for the high school.
Keokuk Street is the most heavily traveled crossing in Lincoln.
So that is the other proposed underpass.
These locations protect or improve critical access to the north
and south ends of town for emergency response vehicles.
Forgy said that in the initial phase, Lincoln would gain a
passenger train stop but would lose it when a second track is added
in the next phase.
[to top of second column] |
It is expected that there would be a decrease in visual appeal
with the addition of the safer quadraplex gates.
The list of requests includes improvements to the Kickapoo Street
underpass; sight and sound screens by adding decorative fencing in
residential areas backing the tracks, and brick or stone walls and
landscaping in areas near crossings; additional angled parking to
help businesses along Sangamon Street and near the Keokuk crossing,
as Sangamon would be dead-ended if an underpass would be added to
that area; and enhanced train schedules and pedestrian access.
Forgy said the requests are now considered a draft proposal, as
changes can be made, adding or taking out requests, and it is also
considered preliminary in that the committee does not yet have all
the information needed.
The city approved a support letter at their March 7 meeting.
The committee asked and received the county board's full approval
for a letter of support to go with their requests.
The committee plans to submit their requests around the beginning
of April.
[By
JAN YOUNGQUIST]
Past related articles
 |
