Posts Tagged ‘train’



U.S. High-Speed Rail Programs Already Creating Jobs, Economic Benefits

Posted Wednesday June 19 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=29692

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo highlights the economic benefits already being produced by high-speedrail investments that are now generating orders for 460 companies in the US Midwest, alone. 

In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama called on us to reignite the engine of economic growth. Here at DOT, we know that investing in America’s transportation infrastructure is one way to jump-start that economic engine–through the construction and engineering jobs created right away and through the efficiencies modern infrastructure provides to our nation’s businesses.

Take a Trip Out of the City on Amtrak’s Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids

Posted Monday June 17 2013 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

Take the Amtrak Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids

http://chicagoist.com/2013/06/14/take_a_trip_out_of_the_city_on_amtr.php

If you’re looking for a good way to spend a few days outside Chicago, take a train trip and hop on Amtrak’s Pere Marquette to Grand Rapids. The line runs through five cities—parts of the route along Lake Michigan—and gets you to the surprisingly cosmopolitan city in plenty of comfort. trackingdot.jpg

IDOT Expected to Seek Proposals in mid-July to Build High-Speed Locomotives

State Leads National Procurement of Approximately 35 Next-Generation Locomotives for Passenger Rail Service
Posted Monday June 17 2013 by in Press Releases
SPRINGFIELD – Governor Pat Quinn announced today that significant progress in preparing the Request for Proposals (RFP) for release has been made for approximately 35 high-performance diesel-electric locomotives for Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Iowa in the Midwest, and for Washington and California on the West Coast. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is leading the multi-state locomotive procurement, as work continues on an aggressive schedule aimed at issuing the RFP in July.

“I have directed IDOT to complete the procurement as expeditiously as possible,” said Gov. Pat Quinn. “I am pleased to be moving closer to a target date and that the release date for the RFP for high-speed locomotives is anticipated to occur sometime in July.  We are thrilled to be leading this multi-state procurement and securing Illinois’ role as a national leader in high-speed rail.”

“This is an exciting time for the state of Illinois. This locomotive procurement has the support and confidence of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Governor Quinn, and we couldn’t be more proud to lead this crucial procurement effort,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider.  “Our goal is to offer 110-mile-per-hour service on as much of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor as we can by late 2015 using existing locomotives.  Another portion will be ready for 110 in 2017, and these locomotives will play a key role in making that happen.  That’s why we are moving quickly to get this procurement under way as soon as possible.”

Gov. Quinn in March announced FRA’s recommendation that Illinois lead the multi-state procurement of next-generation locomotives for high-speed rail.  With the consent of the partnering states, IDOT is leading the effort to procure approximately 35 next-generation diesel locomotives for high-speed passenger trains for the six-state coalition. The FRA has allocated $808 million to manufacture the next generation of passenger rail equipment including approximately 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars.  The locomotives are to meet standards developed by the Next Generation Equipment Committee, a team of government and rail industry experts.

IDOT was involved last year in a multi-state procurement of the 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-speed service, an effort led by California.  That procurement resulted in the selection of Sumitomo/Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Illinois, including the 88 cars to be used on Midwest high-speed corridors.  The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created more than 250 jobs in Illinois.

Illinois debuted 110-mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in November 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that positive train control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service as much as possible in the years ahead.  The FRA in December provided a Record of Decision on the entire Chicago-St. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment studies and specific project studies to move toward high-speed service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including segments from Joliet to Chicago and from Alton to St. Louis.  The segment from Dwight to Joliet is under development and is expected to offer 110-mph service in 2017.

Illinois also is working in close partnership with the state of Michigan to establish 110-mph service from Chicago to Detroit as the next Midwest segment targeted to run at higher speeds.

In order to encourage the broadest response and the highest quality responses to the RFP, the following accelerated schedule is effective:

*Dates are subject to change

• Release of the RFP:     Mid-July 2013
• Proposals due date:      Early September, 2013
• Contract award and Notice to Proceed (NTP): Early 2014

This procurement will use the locomotive specification of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) Section 305 Next Generation Equipment Committee.  Parties intending to participate should be aware that FRA Buy America requirements will apply to this procurement supporting a domestic manufacturing and supply industry in the rail sector.

FRA’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program and its Buy America plan implement America’s “Vision for High-Speed Rail in America”, which includes a goal to bolster American passenger rail expertise and resources.

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City, county seeking federal grant for rail underpass

Posted Thursday June 6 2013 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x2034904509/City-county-seeking-federal-grant-for-rail-underpass#ixzz2VTJnUeaO

Springfield and Sangamon County officials have applied for a $14 million federal grant to build a railroad underpass near the city’s medical district — one of eight underpasses (plus one overpass) that are planned as part of the 10th Street consolidation project.

Mayor Mike Houston said the planned underpass would be located where Carpenter Street intersects the 10th Street railroad tracks and would cost nearly $22 million.

Read more: http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x2034904509/City-county-seeking-federal-grant-for-rail-underpass#ixzz2VTJvxtNj

IL Lawmakers Pushing For Amtrak Expansion In Area

Posted Thursday June 6 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

http://www.kwqc.com/story/22513832/il-lawmakers-pushing-for-amtrak-expansion-in-area

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/lawmakers-encouraging-study-for-future-east-west-passenger-rail-development/article_753f4662-c413-11e2-9fe8-0019bb2963f4.html

http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/lawmakers-want-study-of-nd-q-c-passenger-rail-line/article_cf5b42a4-acf7-5a2e-a7cb-c103a1b470ad.html

IDOT, Springfield and Sangamon County Officials Sign Agreement to Advance High-Speed Rail Design Work on 10th Street Corridor

Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement Underscores State and Local Commitment to Rail in Illinois
Posted Wednesday June 5 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider, Springfield Mayor Michael J. Houston and Sangamon County Chairman Andy Van Meter today announced an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (IGA) to advance design work as a part of the 10th Street Railroad Consolidation Plan. Under the IGA, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will commit up to $8.65 million to support approximately half of the total design cost for the 10th street corridor rail improvements. The funding is a part of Governor Pat Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital program.

 

“Springfield is a vital connection for high-speed rail in Illinois,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “This commitment advances our work with cities along the Chicago to St. Louis Corridor to upgrade rail service, improve infrastructure for safer travel, and bring jobs and businesses to Illinois.”

 

“We are very pleased to have the full project commitment by Governor Quinn to improve rail service in Illinois,” said Secretary Schneider. “We have worked diligently with local officials to come to this agreement and look forward to the many positive results as we make high speed rail a reality in Illinois.”

 

“There is nothing more important to the long-term future of Springfield than where the high-speed railroad tracks go,” said Mayor Houston. “By moving the rail traffic from the 3rd Street tracks to the 10th Street Corridor, we will be using the safest corridor that provides the best east-west flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and will eliminate the rest of the train whistles in Springfield after 3rd Street becomes a quiet zone.”

 

“I want to thank Secretary Schneider for her leadership and Governor Quinn for his advocacy in providing the initial funding for the design and engineering of the 10th Street Corridor. Today is an important day as we jumpstart the design process that will ultimately benefit our local families and small businesses from the jobs and investments that will be created by this project. It will provide an economic engine for development that will benefit East Springfield and the downtown in particular as well as the community as a whole,” Mayor Houston continued.

 

The 10th street corridor consolidation project through Springfield and the needed flyover project just south of Springfield are identified as part of the Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail project. Currently, no funding has been identified for construction of these projects. The state of Illinois, however, is currently funding a detailed environmental analysis of the Springfield Flyover project. The project would include a new track alignment and railway flyover to grade separate the Union Pacific/Amtrak operations from the Norfolk Southern operations to eliminate train congestion and improve crossing delays for vehicular traffic.

 

The immediate improvements will include the 3rd Street corridor safety enhancements that will consist of four-quadrant crossing gates that will prevent cars from driving around lowered gates, as well as new grade crossing approaches, fencing and bridge upgrades to improve rail traffic flow and increase safety in the area until construction is complete on the 10th street corridor. These safety enhancements implemented through the High-Speed Rail program satisfy the requirements needed for the City of Springfield to be eligible to apply for a quiet zone. The 3rd street improvements are fully-funded by federal High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, with additional contributions from the State of Illinois and Union Pacific Railroad (UP).

 

Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail is intended to meet current and future regional travel needs through the implementation of major improvements to the level and quality of passenger rail service within the Chicago to St. Louis Corridor. Approximately $1.75 billion of improvements are being completed by IDOT, UP and the Federal Railroad Administration, pursuant to a Cooperative Agreement funded by ARRA.

 

For specific project information and business opportunities, please visit the project website, http://www.idothsr.org. Please call 1-855-IDOT-HSR (436-8477) with comments or questions. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IllinoisHighSpeedRail.

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Researchers say high-speed rail could fuel U.S. real-estate, economic booms

Posted Wednesday June 5 2013 by in News Articles - Midwest High-Speed Rail

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=222234

New high-speed rail lines are credited with sparking a real estate and housing boom, among other economic benefits, in smaller cities in China. Now experts are debating whether rail modernization can have the same effects in the U.S.
A study by researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles and China’s Tsinghua University found that by connecting “second tier” cities to global hubs, more people move to the smaller cities where housing costs are lower, creating a real-estate boom, among other unplanned benefits.

2013 High-Speed Rail Business Opportunities

Posted Monday June 3 2013 by in Press Releases

Explore Illinois by Train Day

Posted Wednesday May 29 2013 by in Press Releases, Uncategorized

Dear Illinois Amtrak Community:

You are invited to participate in the 2013 Annual Explore Illinois by Train Day, formerly known as Illinois Tourism Day. The event will be held on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Great Hall of Chicago Union Station. 

Explore Illinois by Train Day seeks to promote passenger rail ridership in Illinois by increasing its citizens’ awareness of events, businesses and attractions that are easily accessible by rail.  In the past local tourism offices and businesses from both Downstate and the Chicago area, tourism trade groups, major points of interest and other entities serving the traveling public have participated.  This is a way to reach 130,000 people on an average week day who pass through Union Station.  There is no charge for the event, and the first 20 verified participants will receive free travel via Amtrak.  Some hotels in downtown Chicago will provide a state employee room rate (subject to availability) to participants of the Explore Illinois by Train Day event. Please review The Travel Guide for State Employees for more information on state travel employee guidelines.  The hotel information is at: http://www2.illinois.gov/cms/employees/travel/documents/hotels_chicago.pdf.

Participants must respond to the General Notice posted on the Illinois Procurement Bulletin website:  http://www.purchase.state.il.us/ipb/IllinoisBID.nsf/frmBidViewFrameset?ReadForm&view=viewSolicitationsOpenByDate?OpenView&Start=1&Count=250

Reference number: 22031109   

The General Notice deadline to submit your application is June 20, 2013.  Please read and follow the instructions on the General Notice and the attached Application.    

Pets on Amtrak? Federal bill would ok it Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/Pets-on-Amtrak-Federal-bill-would-ok-it.html#vpo51qs561VTmZrS.99

Posted Tuesday May 28 2013 by in News Articles - Miscellaneous

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/pets/Pets-on-Amtrak-Federal-bill-would-ok-it.html

Dogs and cats are welcome on planes and many hotels, so why not on trains?

Well. it will take an act of Congress to make it happen.

A federal bil introduced last week would clear the way for pets to join their people on certain Amtrak passenger trains.

H.R. 2066, the Pets on Trains Act of 2013, introduced by U.S. Reps. Jeff Denham, (R-CA) and Steve Cohen, (D-TN), would require Amtrak, the national rail operator, to implement a pet policy to allow passengers to travel with domesticated cats and dogs on certain trains.

“My dog, Lily, is part of our family and travels with us to and from California all the time. If I can take her a on a plane, why can’t I travel with her on Amtrak, too?” said Rep. Denham. “Allowing families to bring their animals with them will facilitate transportation and efficiency while also providing a much-needed source of revenue for Amtrak.”

Under the legislation, Amtrak would be required to develop a policy for people to travel with their pets, and to designate, where feasible, at least one car of each passenger train in which a ticketed passenger may transport a dog or cat.

 

 
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