Upcoming public meetings on study of high-speed rail from Chicago to St. Louis

[October 21, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- During a series of upcoming public meetings, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration will present several alternative routes for accommodating higher rail speeds and additional daily round trips between Chicago and St. Louis. The alternatives include a full build-out, which is adding a second track and other improvements. The current Chicago-to-St. Louis corridor operates on a single track that is shared by both traditional freight and Amtrak passenger rail service.

Criteria for evaluating the various alternatives will also be presented at the meetings for public comment. The criteria, such as residential and commercial impacts, travel time reductions, safety and environmental impacts, will be used to narrow down the number of alternatives and decide which will move forward for further study.

The public is invited to attend the open house public meetings at any time between 4 and 7 p.m. to learn more and provide feedback.

Meetings scheduled:

• Monday, Oct. 24 -- Prairie Capital Convention Center, Room B11, One Convention Center Plaza, Springfield, IL 62701

• Tuesday, Oct. 25 -- Jacob Henry Mansion, Victorian Ballroom, 15 S. Richards St., Joliet, IL 60433

• Thursday, Oct. 27 -- Double Tree Hotel, Brickyard 1 & 2, 10 Brickyard Drive, Bloomington, IL 61701

• Wednesday, Nov. 2 -- Blackburn College, Woodson Center, 700 College Ave., Carlinville, IL 62626

• Thursday, Nov. 3 -- Holiday Inn Ballroom, 3800 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton, IL 62002

The meetings will be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Anyone needing special assistance should contact Mandi Voegele of Vector Communications Corp. at 314-621-5566. People planning to attend who will need a sign language interpreter or other similar accommodations should give notification at least five days prior to the meeting by calling through TTY/TDD number 800-526-0844 or 711; for Spanish users of TTY, 800-501-0864 or 711; and for Telebraille, 877-526-6670.

[Text from Illinois High-Speed Rail news release]