I was happy to hear Ardis say this in his State of the City address today:
I will continue to pursue having IDOT urge AMTRAK to complete a feasibility study to bring passenger rail service back to Peoria. We are the second largest municipality outside Chicago and we deserve consideration. Senator Durbin spoke in support of our feasibility study just last week in the Quad Cities and Congressman LaHood supports the study as well.
I’m going to be taking the train to Minnesota next month, and it sure would be great if I didn’t have to drive to Normal to catch it.
Step 1: We should be working with LaSalle/Peru and Ottawa to restore service on the former Rock Island line to Chicago.
I hope the mayor is successful – we really do need access to train service in Peoria.
Mouse,
Your idea is probably most plausible since the old Rock Island route has the densest online population of any other potential route for rail passenger service between Chicago and Peoria, plus track and possibly signal upgrades may come in the not so distant future if Metra extends commuter train service west of Joliet to Peru. Three railroads own and/or operate this route – Peoria to Utica (Iowa Interstate), Utica – Joliet (CSX Transportation) and Joliet – Chicago (Metra). There are other issues, such as how the trains would reach Chicago Union Station, but I think it’s most feasible (and would more easily serve downtown Peoria).
I would love to see train service restored here but I don’t think there is a market for it. I would use it to go to Chicago for pleasure I just don’t think there is enough people in this area that would support it.
I think you would be surprised Emtronics, a lot of people are sick and tired of the hassles of flying and driving.
I am a Bradley University student and I currently take a Peoria Charter Coach or a Burlington Trailways bus from Peoria to Bloomington on a fairly regular basis to get to the northern suburbs of Chicago where I live. The new expanded Amtrak schedule from Bloomington/ Normal to Chicago has made it possible to do this. I have seen a few, but limited, number of people do this from Bradley. All i’m saying is that I am one person who would use it regularly. It’s incredible how many people from the Chicagoland area go to Bradley. I can safely say that on Fridays probably 5 or more loaded buses bound for the Chicago area leave Bradley for weekend visits then return on Sundays. I do wonder how many students would ride the train. ISU in Bloomington has it good. Students can walk to the Amtrak station and people DO ride the train into Chicago. I wish the ridership numbers from the ’70’s could prove this in Peoria though. If the mayor wants it, more power to him.