By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ high-speed rail project will be the topic of discussion at a public meeting tonight in Alton.
Brian Williamsen, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation, said the project is on schedule for completion in late 2017.
“We’re definitely making progress there and look forward to continuing to do so,” Williamsen said. “We really just want to bring people up to speed on what they can expect coming up these next few months.”
Williamsen said the current cost estimate is almost $1.9 billion with federal tax dollars covering $1.6 billion and Illinois taxpayers funding $295 million. Illinois was awarded $1.2 billion in federal tax dollars when the project was announced in 2010.
That cost increase is minimal compared to other projects. The Los Angeles Times reports California’s planned Los Angeles to San Francisco line was estimated to cost $68 billion, more than double its starting price tag.
The upgrade will allow trains to travel at speeds of up to 110 mph. It is expected to shave one hour off the current 5.5 hour, 285-mile trip between Chicago and St. Louis. The trip runs through Uptown Station in Normal.
According to IDOT, about 99 percent of the 35 million annual trips made in the Chicago to St. Louis corridor are accomplished through automobile and air travel.
