HJ0139

LRB095 21701 AJO 51911 r






1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, Decatur, the county seat and largest city in Macon 
3
County, is a metropolitan area with a population of 109,309; 
4
and

 
5
    WHEREAS, The federally operated passenger train service, 
6
Amtrak, does not offer service to Decatur or Macon County at 
7
this time; and

 
8
    WHEREAS, The nation is seeing the highest gas prices in 
9
history, with a national average price of over $4 a gallon, 
10
prompting leaders to suggest driving less and using less motor 
11
fuel; and

 
12
    WHEREAS, Using train and bus services could greatly reduce 
13
the amount of money Illinois citizens spend on motor fuel and 
14
would lessen Illinois citizens' and the nation's dependency on 
15
foreign oil; and


 
16
    WHEREAS, Having Amtrak services in Decatur would not only 
17
allow its citizens another means of transportation and would 
18
save them money, but the services would help stimulate the 
19
economy allowing easier and more affordable access into the 
20
area; therefore, be it

 
 


 






HJ0139
- 2 -
LRB095 21701 AJO 51911 r




1
    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
2
NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
3
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Illinois Department of 
4
Transportation is requested to study the feasibility of 
5
bringing passenger rail services to Decatur, Illinois; and be 
6
it further

 
7
    RESOLVED, That if passenger train service to Decatur is not 
8
fully practical at this time, Amtrak ought to contract with a 
9
provider of bus transportation services to provide connecting 
10
transportation service to and from Decatur to a point that 
11
offers passenger train service; and be it further

 
12
    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
13
delivered to the U.S. Transportation Secretary, the Secretary 
14
of Transportation, the President of Amtrak, and each member of 
15
the Illinois congressional delegation.