The Heart of Illinois Regional Port District has just issued this press release regarding the effort to restore passenger train service to Peoria:
IDOT Requests Feasibility Study To Bring Passenger Rail Service To Peoria
(Peoria) – On March 8th 2007, a group of community leaders and organizers along with representatives from the passenger rail industry met in Peoria. Among the items they discussed were possible routes, funding sources, and the need for a feasibility study to address some of those concerns. The state has now taken the next step by requesting such a study be started by Amtrak.
George Weber, acting director of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), has made an official request that Amtrak begin a feasibility study to determine “potential routes and associated cost estimates as part of the proposed re-establishment of passenger rail service to the area.â€
Explaining the cooperation between IDOT and Amtrak, Weber says, “Amtrak’s role in Illinois’ multi-modal transportation system is becoming more important. This is especially true in areas without existing passenger rail service. A feasibility study for proposed service is a critical step and will serve as the basis for continuing discussions in the possibilities of future expansions of passenger rail service in Illinois.â€
Under the direction of Mayor Jim Ardis and the City Council, Peoria has been seeking support from Amtrak and IDOT to re-establish passenger service to the city. “We’re really excited to be following the lead that Mayor Ardis and the council have provided. Passenger rail service is a tool that Peoria must explore to maintain its world-class transportation infrastructure.†says Steve Jaeger, Executive Director of TransPORT (The Heart of Illinois Regional Port District).
TransPORT will continue to coordinate with the City of Peoria to facilitate the Amtrak study and work with other local communities and organizations to develop a plan to aide the entire region. It has been nearly 25 years since passenger rail service was offered in the Peoria area. A similar feasibility study was recently completed in Rockford and another has begun in the Quad Cities. It is expected that the Peoria study could take a year to finish, and further steps to secure local service could take place after its completion.
This is great news. Peoria could really benefit from passenger rail service, especially if the train came into downtown right along the riverfront — there would be all kinds of tourism possibilities. Not only that, but passenger train ridership is up all over the state, which means there’s demand for rail transportation. Bradley students could benefit from the train service just like ISU students benefit from it in Bloomington-Normal.
Create an IAS/BNSF interchange at Chilli and upgrade the track south to Peoria. Done.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that passenger rail service finally returns. Would definitely take advantage of it for trips to Chicago.
The old Rock Island trackage from Chicago would be the most densely populated of any potential rail paassenger route between Peoria and Chicago. There would be an issue on the Chicago end about how to reach Union Station, however, and although the BNSF-IAIS-TZPR route combination would be the fastest, BNSF probably wouldn’t want even two passenger trains per day on their mainline, let alone the four it would take to give the service any potential. $$$$ could make the difference.
It’s $156 rountrip for two adults and two childeren, ages 2-15, to go to Chicago at 7:30 a.m. and return at 5 p.m. leaving from Bloomington. I assume fares will be comparable from Peoria. My SUV gets 20 muiles to the gallon and it’s 300 miles from here to Chicago. That’s 15 gallons at $3 a gallon equals $45. Throw in $30 for parking and it would still be $80 cheaper than taking the train. There are certainly other reasons to take the train, less hassle (although you will need to pay for some transportation in Chicago), less wear and tear on your auto, better for the evnironment, etc., but $80 would make a big difference for many families.
That’s 300 miles round trip, of course.
justanobserver’s numbers are way off.
If you book in advance, the regular coach fare for 2 adults and 2 children, RT from Bloomington-Normal to Chicago is $66.00, I just checked the Amtrak website. Secondly, just figuring gas is ridiculous. The actual cost of operating a car can run 40-60 cents per mile, plus tolls and parking. Chicago is roughly 160 miles from Peoria, so that’s $128, on the low end, and even figuring you stay off the tollways, plus the $30 for parking, that’s $158, and never mind the hassle and incresaed risk of accidents, etc. There are free shuttle busses from Union Station to the museum area, downtown areas and the Watertower area. Metra offers reasonable fares to many other attractions, including Brookfield Zoo, from Union Station. And for a businessperson (or two), going to something downtown, taking the train is an absolute no brainer. Why the citizens of Peoria don’t demand this service, instead of continuing to allow the politicians to waste tax money on expensive, energy-inefficient airports and highways is beyond me. Just for the record, the Rock Island Rocket made the trip from dowtown Peoria to LaSalle St. Station Chicago 40 years ago, twice a day, each way, in 2 hours and 35 minutes, at least one set of Rockets included a full service diner, and the Rock Island not only did not get a subsidy, it paid taxes, and lots of them. Had the Rock Island passenger service been given a fraction of the money that was wasted on the Peoria airport, highways, and other boondoggles since then, we would today have several trains a day running to Chicago at European bullet train speeds. Unfortunately, we can’t correct the mistakes of the past, but we can sure as heck do something about the next 40 years.
Lets also consider the fact that anobserver is figuring prices for a family of 4 to visit downtown chicago during what would be the peak of rush hour on a weekday which is also the busiest business travel time on the train (the reason for higher rates). Do you really think that your typical family of four will decide to take a day trip to Chicago in the middle of the week??? I would also like to see an SUV that gets 20 mpg the ENTIRE way to Chicago starting at 7:30 am and leaving to be back in Peoria by 5. I-55 is like a parking lot during those hours coming in and out of the downtown.
I, for one, am someone who has taken the train to downtown Chicago a number of times. The #1 benefit of this is ZERO driving stress. The only decisions I have to make is walk on the train and walk off in Chicago.
I can read, listen to music, watch the countryside, nap. I can’t do this many relaxing activities driving.
I took the train to the April 10 Cubs game against the Astro’s. We left from B-N around 7:30 AM and were at Union Station by 10:20. Got on the Red Line and were at the Addison stop by 11:30 or so.
No one in our group had ever taken Amtrak. We all decided we’ll probably never drive downtown again. It was so nice to just walk and not have to pay $30 to park, or worry about having some beers at the game. If you are staying downtown, all the hotels are close and again – no parking charges. Best thing was NO I-55 traffic!
I wish Peoria had this option. One thing is sure – they’ve gained four Amtrak riders!!
Our daughter lived in Lisle a few years ago. We drove to her place then took the Metra train from Lisle to downtown Chicago. We saw the sights had some fun then took Metra back to Lisle and drove home. We found this to be far superior to driving and parking in Chicago which is always a major pain. Taking the train from Peoria to Union Station would be the best as long as the trains ran on time and departed at convenient times. Otherwise until we get Amtrak service, we will go to a suburb with Metra service and commute to Union Station.
In my previous job, when I had a meeting or conference to attend in Chicago, I always took the train whenever possible. It cost $30 round trip. If I had driven up, it would have cost $20 just to park one night, and I was usually there two or three nights. So it was a lot cheaper to take the train.
I would imagine that if Bradley students could take the train here, they wouldn’t all need to bring cars, and that would alleviate some of the parking problems that appear to plague the campus.
My train resume includes:
2 trips on the original Rocket, Peoria to Chicago and back, circa 1958-59. Wooden benches, yes wooden benches, and the trip took around 4 hours each way.
Later trips on the Rocket in the 60’s, better cars, but not much faster.
One trip when the depot was in East Peoria, very slow and horrid tracks.
When I lived in DC, I took Amtrak from DC to NYC several times, fast, very crowded and noisy. Also went from DC to Peoria, via Chicago, also crowded but arrived early. People on the East coast take the train like it was nothing.
The “big” trip was from Chillicothe to San Diego, via LA, 1988. Left Chilli at 7pm on a Thursday, arrived LA about 730am Saturday, arrived 2pm in San Diego. Had a “room” on the bottom level, the bathrooms on the whole train were backed up before we hit Iowa and stayed that way the whole trip. The smell filled every car and complaints got nowhere. This was along the route thru southern CO, NM and AZ, great views of desert. I think I paid about $575 for the ticket, and the same ticket today is about $1200.
I love trains, tho, but the ONLY way a this would work would be to have the train start in downtown Peoria.
Or, they could build a passenger depot in Pioneer Park and utilize the Kellar Branch for commuter service to downtown. Just a thought . . .
PrairieCelt, I like your idea. A station could be built at or near the Allen Road crossing. This same station could be used for commuter rail service to Peoria Heights and downtown.
Thanks, Mister Ed. I made that comment as a “wink” to C.J., but I also thought it could have some merit. Then they could put a nice walking trail along side of it and everybody would be happy!
Just an observation from my time in Europe, where they have outstanding train service. There is a sort of iron law about public transportation. It is that people will choose drive rather than take public transportation if they can. Affordability alone doesn’t make people switch. There is an entire combination of sticks and carrots used to move people to public transportation. Ticket price is just one of them, eg a carrot.
The sticks include;
Extremely limited parking, which is far worse than what you will experience in Chicago. For sake of comparison I am thinking of Hamburg Germany. This limited parking extends to residential areas too. To even have a driveway is a luxury. It isnt that people can’t afford to have driveways but rather they are zoned out.
Expensive parking rates, which are similar.
Much much higher gas prices, due to higher gas taxes which help subsidize the public transportation sector.
Exhaustive licensing requirements. It is much harder to get a license in Europe than here in the states. Consequently a larger portion of the population simply cannot drive but the ones that are licensed are much much better drivers.
Punitive regime for traffic violations. Much of Europe operates on a point system. As you rack up speeding tickets, parking tickets, accident tickets, you acquire points. Get too many and you lose your license FOREVER. Some violations take you directly to FOREVER.
Punitive insurance practices. Auto insurance is different over there. It acts more like a guaranteed loan. If you incure $1000 in damage you will be paying that back to the insurance company, along with your premium going up.
In short the cost of owning a car, operating a car, is much more expensive. It can also be a huge inconvenience. But all that has to be weighed againsts the powerfully liberating experience of driving a car.
Carrots:
Public transportation is much much cheaper than owning a car.
You can go anywhere and get there reliably on time. This is very important and something to which Peoria does not do well. We should be mindful of this too for where you would place a trainstation. In Europe the train station is next to or very nearby the central bus station, which in Peoria means it needs to be downtown. Your primary customer base is not going to be the rich.
Public transportation hubs are located in commercial centers and vis versa. This makes public transportation very convenient. The main shopping districts are located in and around train stations and bus stations. Peoria fails miserably on this account. We have a bus station downtown that simply is ignored for its commercial potential.
Anyone can take public transportation. No licensing or age requirements.
PrairieCelt, I like your idea. A station could be built at or near the Allen Road crossing. This same station could be used for commuter rail service to Peoria Heights and downtown.
Left by Mister Ed on April 27th, 2007
Thanks, Mister Ed. I made that comment as a “wink†to C.J., but I also thought it could have some merit. Then they could put a nice walking trail along side of it and everybody would be happy!
Left by PrairieCelt on April 27th, 2007
Evidently I have been shouting into the wind with no one listening. I have been touting this for months and just now you guys are thinking its a good idea? Where were you when we were proposing the trolley to the City council and the Peoria Heights Village and talking about it eventually hooking up to the mainline downtown for Amtrak? We even had a freight company that was and is willing to bring the Kellar up to passenger track standards at no fee to the city. Sure takes a long time to get somethings through some heads.
But if it follows true to form we will have a “trail” to Chicago for the hikers and bikers instead of a train.
Sharon, mea culpa! Coming late to the issue, it took me a while to sort through all the information and absorb the transportation technical details.
That said, and being your basic capitalist at heart, it is my opinion that nothing should be done that will interfere with the city’s businesses – we need to attract more business, not run our existing businesses out of town.
But, I do like – and use – walking trails and support the idea of a trail beside the rail. If the trolley venture can be structured in such a way that it can break even (and not have to be propped up by our tax dollars), then let’s do it.
Sharon, You know me and where I stand. I will see you next Thursday for I am Mr.Ed.
PrairieCelt, the proposal for the trolley involves absolutely no dollars from the city or the Heights village. And despite others remarks, the trail and rail can run side by side.
JW is simply wrong. The Rock Island Rocket NEVER had wooden benches. For a short time in the mid-50’s I understnad that the “Jet Rocket” had relatively uncomfortable bus-type seats, but not wooden seats. Into the 50’s there were non-Rocket (heavyweight) locals, but I think they were gone before 1958, they probably had 4 hour running times, but the Rocket had a 2 hour, 35 minute schedule most of its tenure. For the record I could write for hours with my airline horror stories.
The JET ROCKET ran in 1956-1957 after which conventional the PEORIA ROCKET returned. The JET ROCKET and and two Talgo trains owned by the Rock Island ran in Chicago- Joliet commuter service into the mid-1960’s before being retired.