HJ0072 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0072 LRB098 17487 MST 52594 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are continuously looking for ways to improve the quality of mass transit and help its citizens move about the State more efficiently; and

WHEREAS, Establishing an East-West passenger rail corridor in the State of Illinois would improve access to nearly a dozen universities and community colleges and nearly a half-dozen private colleges; and

WHEREAS, A passenger rail connection between the Quad Cities campus of Western Illinois University and the Macomb campus would greatly improve the efficiency of intercampus service by staff and access by students; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor would provide citizens across Illinois better, quicker, and easier access to the high-speed railroad corridor from Chicago to St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor from the Moline/Rock Island area to Danville, via Galesburg, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, and Champaign-Urbana, could be constructed using existing railroad lines; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor would contribute to further economic development including increased mobility for workers across the State; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor would help reduce highway congestion, improve quality of life, and reduce air pollution; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor is in the best interest of national security, should large numbers of people need to be moved quickly due to a natural disaster or an act of aggression; rail service would be the most reliable, available, and efficient means of transport; and

WHEREAS, An East-West passenger rail corridor from Moline/Rock Island to Danville would provide a connection between all 3 existing North-South railroad corridors; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support the development of an East-West passenger rail corridor in the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Ann L. Schneider.