HR1188LRB097 22255 GRL 70997 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Many State-supported passenger trains in Illinois 
3currently are operating at full capacity; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Passenger train demand has doubled in the last 5 
5years and continues to grow; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The federal government has provided Illinois and 
7the Midwest states with capital grants to acquire new 
8"Next-Generation" passenger trains; and

  
 
9    WHEREAS, The "Next-Generation" train order is designed to 
10replace, not supplement, the number of trains in service; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois will not be able to 
12accommodate increased ridership solely through the use of 
13"Next-Generation" trains; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, Federal law has mandated that states shall begin 
15to make capital payments for trains in service as of October 
162013; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois' capital payments can favor 
18the continued growth and reduced cost of its State-supported 
19passenger trains; and
  
 
 
 
HR1188- 2 -LRB097 22255 GRL 70997 r

1    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois can increase its ridership 
2capacity by directing these capital payments to high-speed, 
3high-capacity trains that are interoperable with the State's 
4"Next-Generation" train specification to supplement 
5"Next-Generation" trains; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois may offset the capital 
7payments for these trains by selling more tickets made 
8available by the greater number of seats on these trains; 
9therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
12in order to address the above capacity and cost issues, the 
13Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) shall develop a 
14strategy to acquire additional passenger railcars in advance of 
15the Next Generation deliveries and shall deliver an action plan 
16to implement this strategy; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That any trains used to supplement the current 
18fleet must be able to operate at speeds of 110 MPH, must have a 
19high-capacity of over 72 seats per coach, must be interoperable 
20with the State's "Next-Generation" train specification, and 
21must be delivered in advance of the receipt of the State's 
22"Next-Generation" trains; and be it further
 
 
 
HR1188- 3 -LRB097 22255 GRL 70997 r

1    RESOLVED, That IDOT shall deliver the action plan in 
2writing no later than 30 days from adoption of this resolution 
3to the members of the Illinois House of Representatives, the 
4Governor of the State of Illinois, the Illinois Director of 
5Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the Director of the 
6Governor's Office of Management and Budget.