The Madison County Board unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday in support of one of two routes being considered as the final leg of the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail connection.
An Illinois High-speed rail car / Photo courtesy of the Illinois Department of Transportation
The route would cross the Mississippi River at the Merchant’s Bridge in Madison and continue east of the river into St. Louis. The city of East St. Louis, with the support of the St. Clair County Board, has lobbied for the other route being considered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which would go through East St. Louis and make possible another Metro East rail station.
Alton is a stop on both considered routes, but the Madison County Board resolution voices support for limiting the number of St. Louis area stops for the high-speed train to just Alton and St. Louis. The Alton City Council unanimously passed a resolution on April 7 against IDOT pursing an East St. Louis station.
The Madison County and Alton resolutions cite an increase in travel time if a second Metro East station is added. The Alton resolution also notes that St. Clair County has offered to split the train service with Alton. The split would be a disservice to taxpayers, who are funding the new $25 million dollar multimodal transportation hub and train station, the Alton resolution states.
East St. Louis and St. Clair County officials have lobbied for a new multimodal transportation hub and train station less than 1/2 mile from the Casino Queen. A station in East St. Louis would provide convenience for St. Clair County residents, who can access the station via Metro Link, and not require a longer trip to Alton or St. Louis, officials said.
The resolution passed by the Alton City Council indicates that the proposed site of the East St. Louis stop is 2.5 miles from the St. Louis train station. Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan said adding an additional stop so close to another defeats the purpose of high-speed rail.
IDOOT officials have previously communicated a desire to recommend a preferred alternative in the fall 2014. High-speed rail service between St. Louis and Chicago is projected to begin in 2017.
