Mayor Ali Provides Update on Passenger Rail and Announces Survey

Passenger Rail Public Interest Survey Released

Residents and Visitors Are Encouraged to Provide Feedback on Connecting Peoria to Rail

January 25, 2022 (Peoria, IL) The City, in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation, has released a public survey to gauge interest in passenger rail service to Peoria. The survey is available electronically for all who live, work, and visit Peoria.

The 10-question survey asks questions ranging from frequency of use to cost of a ticket. It will only take a few minutes for members of the community to express their level of interest regarding an additional option of transportation. The City is encouraging robust participation from the public.

Last August Mayor Ali began meeting monthly with state and local officials in a group co-chaired by former Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to advance the possibility of passenger rail. Regarding the collaborative effort, Secretary LaHood stated, "I am honored and privileged to participate as Co-Chair with Mayor Ali and a distinguished committee of Central Illinois citizens to bring Amtrak passenger rail service to Peoria. Our work together will bring to reality the vision of Mayor Ali to enable citizens of Central Illinois to board an Amtrak train in Peoria and travel through Illinois and connect to other parts of our country."

Through funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation, a feasibility study is being conducted on the viability of providing passenger rail service to the greater Peoria area.

Speaking at the kick-off meeting in August, Mayor Ali stated, "We're in the heart of the country, and everybody doesn't own a car. Access is important; that's an equity issue right there. Everybody can't drive to Bloomington or they can't drive to Galesburg. So, we want access for everyone, and that opportunity to travel, whether it's for social, cultural, business, work. We want those opportunities for everybody in Peoria."

Working with the consultant team of engineers, a preliminary route connecting Peoria to LaSalle-Peru, Ottawa, Morris, Joliet, and Chicago has been identified as the corridor to be studied. Over the next few months, the team will review the feasibility of this route for infrastructure improvement needs, potential ridership, cost, and host railroad cooperation. This study is scheduled to conclude in April. A separate study will look at potential locations for a station.

Mayor Ali Provides Passenger Rail Updates at January 25 Press Conference

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