This morning, the Illinois Senate passed a measure (SB 2571) that would establish a high-speed rail authority in Illinois. The 15-member board would be tasked with preparing a slate of recommendations for how the state should "design, build, operate, maintain, and finance" its high-speed rail system. Experts say that a similar authority set up 13 years ago in California (and staffed with engineers and transit advocates) is one of the major reasons that state has been able to coordinate spending priorities and develop a realistic plan for its system.

The bill will now be tossed over to the House.