1. Chicago – St. Louis High Speed Rail Program July 9, 2015
Welcome and thank you for attending today’s Illinois High-Speed Rail (Chicago to St. Louis) Informational Meeting.

2. History: Chicago-St. Louis Corridor
IDOT has actively developed the corridor since the mid1980’s
Previously completed NEPA (2004 ROD)
Sizeable ridership at intermediate stations
Awarded significant ARRA (Recovery) funding 2010
For nearly three decades, IDOT has pursued improvements to passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis.
IDOT has studied the development of HSR on the corridor since the mid 1980’s
The Chicago to St. Louis corridor was designated a HSR corridor in 1992
IDOT completed environmental studies in 2003/2004
Added frequencies in 2006
Why?
Chicago is the rail hub of the Midwest
Provides connections:
-through Chicago and other Midwest railroad destinations
-to major Illinois universities
-to Illinois’ state capital
© APTA and AREMA

3. Ridership Growth © APTA and AREMA - 2015
The Illinois High-Speed Chicago to St. Louis Corridor is located along 13 counties (Cook, DuPage, Will, Grundy, Livingston, McLean, Logan, Sangamon, Macoupin, Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, and St. Louis) and has stops in the following cities: Chicago, Summit, Dwight, Pontiac, Bloomington-Normal, Lincoln, Springfield, Carlinville, Alton, and St. Louis.
With the addition frequencies, ridership numbers increased substantially between 2006 to first year of construction, which interrupted service for TRT work though this year, Amtrak has bused around the construction activity.
© APTA and AREMA

4. Who’s Involved? Project Partners
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)
Amtrak
Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)
Others
Support
Parsons Brinckerhoff - Program Manager
IDOT Consultants (PTB Advertisements)
UPRR Contractors/Consultants
Elected Officials
Business Community
Regional Agencies
General Public & Interest Groups
Who will be participating in the development of the Illinois High-Speed Rail Chicago to St. Louis Project?
The Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Bureau of Railroads is lead agency for the project having a grant agreement with the FRA.
Project Partners include:
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
Union Pacific Railroad (UP)- Owner/Dispatcher
Amtrak – Service provider
Other railroads --Canadian National Railway (CN) ownership changes to CN at Joliet, Kansas City Southern (KCS) KCS dispatches between Wann and Q Tower on south end, Norfolk Southern (NS), and Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)
Key representatives from the communities and cities along the corridor.
A Parsons Brinkerhoff was retained by IDOT to assist with the development, design, public involvement and implementation of the new service. Once the service has been implemented, the primary responsibility for on-going operations will be by Amtrak/Contract Service Providers.
Transportation Providers
City/County Technical Staff
© © APTA and AREMA

5. What are we building? Joint–use corridor
Odell
Dwight
Pontiac
Chenoa
Ballard
Normal
MP 126.4
Joliet
Chicago
Bloomington
MP 36.7
Braidwood
Wilmington
Joliet Intermodal
Facility
CP Justice
CP Canal
CN Railroad NS
TPW
Metra
Elwood
St. Louis
Springfield
MP 126.4
McLean
Athol
Lincoln
Elkhart
Auburn
Girard
Carlinville
MP 225.3
Shipman
Wann
WR Tower
MP 283
Godfrey
Alton
Bloomington
KCS
Control
BNSF NS CN
I&M
Hazel Dell
Joint–use corridor
Primarily single track railroad
Upgrades for passenger speeds of up to 110mph
Improvements for reliable passenger service
Corridor is joint use between Passenger and Freight, runs from Q Tower on the south end to Joliet on the north end, where it connects to the CN on into Chicago.
It is primarily a single track route, adding some double track sections with this project.
Upgrading the existing track structure began in 2010, continuing this year with the upgrading of various bridges.
Once all complete, the infrastructure will substantially improve passenger reliability.
Completed in 2011
Main Track rehabilitation to 110 MPH
Completed in 2010
Completed in 2012
To Complete in 2016
New 2nd Main Track and siding construction
Signal and Grade crossing systems upgrade and bridge rehab across the corridor
Reconstructed siding / 2nd ML:

6. Chicago – St. Louis Program Budget
Track & Structures $757 million
Real Estate $ 29 million
Stations $ 34 million
Rolling Stock / Equipment $414 million
Signaling & Communications $204 million
Grade Crossings, Fencing, OH Bridges $218 million
Professional Services $230 million
(Program Management, Environmental / Design, Construction Oversight)
Total: $1.886 billion
UP/IDOT Spent to date / Invoiced (thru Q1 2015): $609 million
Committed to date (thru Q1 2015): $800 million

7. NEPA/Environmental Documents are Critical (more than 47 involved)

8. Construction Overview
© APTA and AREMA

9. Mainline Track Rehabilitation Before  After
Milepost
156.77
Here are some before and after pictures, following the TRT work.
Milepost
118.12
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10. 262 miles of track rehabilitation (complete)
Construction Status
262 miles of track rehabilitation
(complete)
Construct 2nd Main Line – 39 Miles
(4.3 miles completed Nov 2014)
15 new or improved sidings (5 completed / 3 under construction)
250 improved grade crossings (39 completed)
Advanced signaling system (PTC)
(Testing to begin 2nd Q 2015)
© APTA and AREMA

11. Enhanced Safety at Grade Crossings
Quad gates
Vehicle detection with communi- cation to approaching trains
Pedestrian gates and fencing
Extensive liaison with local agencies
Behind the NEPA process, the challenge of getting approval for road crossings is a close second for impeding the progression of the project.
Diagnostics on the crossings was easy part, getting approval through IDOT and the local agencies has been the difficult part. Some of the issue has been a staffing problem with some of the small communities and rural counties.

12. Normal Design Complete Pontiac, Springfield, Alton in FD
Stations Update
Dwight in bid phase
Construction in 2015
Normal Design Complete
Pontiac, Springfield, Alton in FD
Carlinville in FD
Lincoln in PE
Site prep underway
Dwight

13. Cars and Locomotives (includes Midwest States)
33 state of the art locomotives
72 (minimum) bi-level passenger cars

14. Current Program Areas of Focus
Two plus major construction seasons ahead
Equipment procurement
Grade crossing process and scope
PTC design / certification
Midewin National Prairie
Market St., Bloomington

15. Schedule Milestones
Significant construction
Ongoing project review is major impact to land acquisition
New cars start arriving mid 2016
New locomotives start arriving fall 2016
June 2017 ARRA completion target
Late 2017 or 2018 state work completion

16. Thank you.
© APTA and AREMA