EDITORIAL: Are Politicians Trying to Sneak in Rail Line Behind Illiana?

Full story originally published here.

Do we know everything about the Illiana expressway?

I recently read a story in my September issue of Trains magazine about the Illiana Expressway being planned for the southern suburbs.

I did not know that a major rail line is included in the right of way for the expressway.

The article details at least a two-track line with space for expansion that would create a 90-mile industrial park along this route. Planners are projecting 50 to 100 trains a day on this line.

I am all for alleviating congestion on the region rail lines, but are our politicians again trying to sneak in development that the current landowners in this area may not know about?

– Joe Tragesser, Hammond