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Transportation
Quick Hit
by Michael Piskur
3:51pm
Mon Mar 5, 2012
2 comments

2012 Gearing Up To Be Important Year For Illinois High-Speed Rail Projects

The Obama Administration’s high-speed rail plans continue to progress even as Congress fights over the nation’s transportation future. Ongoing projects in the Chicago-St.Louis corridor would reduce congestion and increase travel speeds to 110 miles per hour. High-speed passenger service along this route should start in 2014.

In 2010, Illinois received $1.2 billion in federal funds for high-speed passenger rail service. Approximately $1.1 billion will go toward improvements between Dwight and St. Louis. Much of the corridor currently operates on just one track, and future plans include constructing a second track that would allow trains to travel up to 125 mph. An environmental impact study for that project is underway and should be complete by the end of this year.
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Quick Hit
by Brandon Campbell
5:32pm
Wed Feb 29, 2012
2 comments

Transportation Advocates Put Support Behind Gas Tax For Public Transit

With Chicago-area gas prices pushing the $4 mark and pending federal legislation that would slash millions of dollars in funding for local public transit, a group of city transportation advocates is calling for more funding and improved services.

Riders for Better Transit and the Active Transportation Alliance held a press conference Wednesday morning at Pritzker Park near the Jackson Red Line station at Van Buren and State Streets. The group is throwing its support behind the Transit Fast Forward Bill, which would add a tax of two-fifths of a cent per gallon of gas to the six Illinois counties served by the CTA, Metra, and Pace systems.

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PI Original
by Michael Piskur
2:06pm
Wed Feb 22, 2012

Legislators Balk As House Transportation Bill Threatens Local Transit Funding, Projects

Transportation

A surface transportation bill written by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives would cut funding for Illinois, calling for drastic reductions in mass transit allocations and the elimination of popular and effective bike and pedestrian safety programs. The controversial bill is facing an uphill battle, according to some legislators from Illinois.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
5:44pm
Tue Feb 14, 2012

Red Line Extension Moving Forward, But Funding Uncertain

Transportation

Finally, CTA is moving forward on extending the Red Line – but cash to complete the extension is tied up in federal funding — and the whims of the Congressional funding process.