Illinois officials on Tuesday played host to the first of four public meetings designed in part to update folks on the $275 million restoration of passenger rail service between Rockford and Chicago coming in 2027.
Another mission of the event was to reassure skeptics that this is for real, said Scott Speegle, IDOT Passenger Rail Communications Manager.
“Most of the work over the last year has been more behind the scenes,” Speegle said. “Preliminary engineering, working on agreements with the railroads and with the communities involved, diagnostics to determine what is needed to improve the tracks and the grade crossings. So we’re advancing the project, and we’re still on track for a 2027 service launch.”
Plans are for construction to begin by the end of 2025. The 90-mile Metra intercity service from Rockford to Chicago will have stops in Huntley, Elgin and Belvidere. It’s possible that the first phase of construction will be to connect Metra-owned tracks to Union Pacific- owned tracks at Big Timber.