On April 4, 2011, IDOT submitted applications to the Federal Railroad Administration for additional High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program funding. View the applications:
Illinois Next Generation Pooled Equipment Procurement (4.5 MB PDF)
IL-Chicago – St Louis Corridor Supplement (FDC) (73 MB PDF)
IL-Chicago – St Louis Corridor Supplement SDP (76 MB PDF)
IL-Metro St Louis Area Station PE-NEPA (4.5 MB PDF)
Vote Today to Bring a Union Pacific Steam Locomotive to Illinois & Iowa
Go to www.upexcursion.com
We need your help. Illinois and Iowa are in the running for a visit by one of the Union Pacific Railroad’s magnificent, super power steam locomotives this year on a trip called The Tuscola Turn. Our principal competition is Little Rock, AR, but they had the engine visit there last year, so this year it is our turn, but we need your vote!
You can help! Please get on line and vote for The Tuscola Turn today, and again once each day until Monday Jan 17.
Go to www.upexcursion.com
The Illinois DOT in conjunction with the Iowa DOT continues work to implement passenger rail service to Dubuque. A grant application was submitted on October 2, 2009 seeking $140 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 funding under the HSIPR program. Unfortunately, the application was not selected for an award. However, Illinois DOT, as the lead state, continues work on this corridor using capital funding appropriated by the Illinois legislature.
Union Pacific will use a modern track renewal train, the TRT 909, which installs rail and concrete ties in one pass. The TRT can install up to 5,000 ties in a twelve-hour day. The track renewal train consists of approximately 30 rail cars, with each car capable of carrying 210 concrete ties. Three sets of gantry cranes move the concrete ties forward for the TRT to drop into place and the machine then threads the new rail onto the ties. The old wooden ties are picked up and discarded rail is threaded out as the machine works its way down the track. A conveyor positions the removed ties for the gantry cranes to load them onto railcars for movement to a facility for sorting.
Grand Rapids is Michigan’s second largest city. With more than one million residents in the metro area, it offers all the big-city amenities and excitement you can imagine. Yet it’s also a region of abundant natural wonders, where outdoor recreation is a year-round pursuit. And it’s all served up with a heaping helping of small-town friendliness, safety and affordability.
Grand Rapids is named after the river that runs through the heart of the city. There are no longer any rapids to be found in the Grand River as it winds its way through downtown – but there are plenty of fishermen casting for trout, salmon and steelhead amidst the vibrant energy of our city streets. (No wonder Field & Stream Magazine named Grand Rapids America’s 6th Best Fishing City.)
Downtown is clean, safe and walkable – there are more than 75 hotels, restaurants, museums, and sports and entertainment venues within a five-minute walk of each other. Some of Grand Rapids’ other unique attractions are less than a ten-minute drive away: Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (one of the Midwest’s most popular tourist spots); John Ball Zoo (one of the nation’s oldest urban zoos); and Woodland Mall and Rivertown Crossings (two of Michigan’s largest indoor malls).
Voight House Victorian Museum
Grand Rapids Night Skyline
John Ball Zoo
Gerald Ford Museum
Click here for more fun facts about Grand Rapids, Michigan!
Located in southeastern Michigan, Detroit is the largest city in the state, the 10th largest city in the United States and the eighth largest metropolitan area.
Detroit has had a profound impact on the world – from the putting the world on wheels to the Motown sound – Detroit has crafted American culture. Metro Detroit has always been a great place to work, live and visit. The region is currently undergoing a renaissance with new developments and attractions. Downtown Detroit’s development boom is unparalleled in the country.
Top-notch entertainment venues, fun family attractions, glitzy casinos and world class museums. These are just a few reasons to plan a weekend getaway in Detroit! Ambitious redevelopment and renovations are sparking excitement in the 303-year old city.
Greektown Casino
Comerica Park
Fox Theater
Motown Museum
Comerica Park/Detroit Skyline
Belle Isle Scott Fountain
Click here to find out more fun facts about Detroit!
From the clean sparkling waters of Lake Michigan to our rich cultural heritage, Milwaukee has something for everyone. Old World Charm mixed with New-World Vigor. Milwaukee is an ideal tour destination, with so much to offer your group; you’ll want to visit over and over again.
Just 90 miles north of Chicago, Milwaukee also known as the City of Festivals, hosts many ethnic, cultural and religious events throughout the year including Polish Fest, Germanfest, Irish Fest and African World Festival all of which have been named Top 100 Events by the American Bus Association.
A multitude of exciting attractions await the eager visitor. From world-renowned museums to the many mansions, breweries, gardens, sporting events and Potawatomi Bingo Casino. There is something for every age or interest to experience.
The Greater Milwaukee area abounds with an exciting variety of shopping choices; quaint specialty shops, artisans’ villages, one-of-a-kind galleries, malls and outlet stores just to name a few.
Milwaukee Lakefront
Come and immerse yourself in our incredible city filled with Entertainment, Celebration & Fun!!!
Milwaukee ranks MOST AFFORDABLE among its competitive set of cities in regards to food and lodging. Enjoy a leisurely boat cruise in the scenic Milwaukee harbor. Stroll along the RiverWalk, a lovely pedestrian promenade connecting the city’s waterfront neighborhoods. Dine at a colorful, riverside bistro or shop at any number of hip art galleries or specialty boutiques. If traveling by two wheels is more your style, the Harley Davidson Museum is a must-see.
Summer is the perfect time of year to take advantage of Milwaukee’s prime lakefront location. With over 150 parks and parkways combining into nearly 15,000 acres of recreational enjoyment, you’re sure to find the perfect spot to bike, jog, hike or rollerblade. It’s even said that some of the country’s best kite flying takes place right here along the shores of Lake Michigan in Veteran’s Park.
Visit Milwaukee should be the first website you visit when planning your trip www.visitmilwaukee.org
Root, root, root for the home team! The Milwaukee Brewers are back in action at Miller Park, the only stadium in North America featuring a fan-shaped convertible roof. Sit along the Menomonee River while enjoying one of our most treasured baseball traditions, tailgating. Cheer on Bernie Brewer, the official mascot of the team, as he takes a ride down his slide after one of the home team hits one out of the park.
And you’ll never forget watching the beloved world-famous Racing Sausages emerge from the left field corner and sprint toward home plate just before the seventh inning. This year we welcome a fifth competitor to this uniquely Milwaukee tradition, the chorizo.
In addition to the professional sporting events available in Milwaukee, you can enjoy some of the best college basketball played anywhere in the Country. The Marquette University basketball team once again starts the year ranked among the Nation’s best – http://www.marquette.edu/
If you are interested in relocating to the Milwaukee area, or bringing your business to the Milwaukee Metro Area, please visit the Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development organization website at: http://www.mmac.org/display/router.asp?docid=662
“Beauty, Opportunity, Quality of life:
We’ll Help You Find it all Here in the Heart of the U.S.”
Whenever you see a “Best of” headline in a magazine or newspaper, you can almost certainly expect to see Madison turn up high in the rankings.
In just the past couple of years alone, Madison and the surrounding communities have earned accolades as being among of the best places in America to live, raise a family, educate children, get a college degree, or expand business. It’s been called an “up and coming destination” in the New York Times Style Magazine, “a heartland hit” for families by Nick Jr. magazine, and even “this Paris of south-central Wisconsin” by Outside magazine.
A vibrant city of more than 225,000, Madison is a rare combination of thriving business, progressive government, rich culture and advanced education – all in a setting of rare natural beauty. Surrounded by five lakes, laced with bike trails, and enlivened with numerous parks and green spaces, the area offers countless opportunities to enjoy a prosperous career, operate a successful business, and enjoy your favorite pastimes.
A city of more than 26,300 residents, Carbondale is home to a thriving business community strongly boosted by Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, recognized nationally for outstanding education, research, and athletics. Located in the heart of beautiful Southern Illinois, Carbondale and the surrounding region offer scenic lakes, a national forest, and abundant recreational opportunities, including two stops along the Southern Illinois Golf Trail. Carbondale is also the front door of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the home of fabulous restaurants serving international cuisine, the retail center for multiple counties, and the region’s cultural center, with many stages filled with music, dance, and live theater.
For more information on the city of Carbondale, visit: http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/?q=node/90
Green Bay City Arial
The City of Green Bay’s population is over 104,000, with an additional 150,000 people living in the Green Bay metro area. Historically, the city’s largest employers have been the paper and shipping industries. Today that still holds true with Green Bay as a major Midwestern port city, and being home to one of the country’s largest trucking firms.
Greater Green Bay thrives with a progressive atmosphere in business and industry. Forbes, Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines have all recognized Greater Green Bay as a hot city for starting or owning a business.
Green Bay Route
Residents who move away to try another city, oftentimes return for the quality of life, family-friendly values and strong business community. The 2007 Kiplinger Report named Greater Green Bay as on of the top five cities in the nation to raise a family.
Known around the world for contributions to industry and agriculture, Green Bay is most known as being the smallest city host a National Football League team. Founded in 1919, the 12-time National Champion Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to be owned by its fans.
Green Bay Stadium Arial
For more information about Green Bay visit www.ci.green-bay.wi.us or www.greenbay.com.
