The Corridors: Lincoln Heritage
The showcase for Illinois' new rail mobility is the Lincoln Heritage Corridor-a 284-mile main line connecting Chicago with Springfield and St. Louis. More than $200 million in state, federal and private funds have been committed towards developing world-class passenger train service on this key Midwestern artery.
There are three proposals for expanded passenger service on the line:
Commuter Rail: The Chicago - Joliet Heritage Corridor is Metra's only route offering rush-hour only service.
Extended Commuter Rail: Will County, the fastest-growing quadrant of the metropolitan region, is seeking to extend Metra service another 18 miles beyond Joliet to Wilmington.
Intercity: The Illinois Department of Transportation has begun work to reduce the Chicago to St. Louis transit time to under four hours, with nine daily departures.
The Midwest High Speed Rail Association has proposed the Abe Lincoln Express as the next phase. Read more: |
