WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderQuinn announces investment into new Rockford Amtrak station

ROCKFORD (WREX)

By Michael Peppers

Nearly a year after the old Rockford Amtrak station was torn down, a new one will soon replace it.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn told a group gathered at the Tinker Swiss Cottage that the state will commit $3 million to the project.

Rockford will use that money to design and engineer a new transmodal Amtrak station. That $3 million is part of a total cost of about $12 million. It makes Rockford the mid-point in a bigger rail line project the state is working on to connect Chicago to Dubuque Iowa.

"When you have a train, you need to have a station and we have to have a 21st Century station," said Governor Quinn.  "One that connects to all other kinds of transportation. It might be buses, it might be taxis, and any other kinds of transportation that people need to get where they want to go. When you shorten transportation times, you dramatically help your economy."

South Elgin, Genoa, Freeport and Galena will all be connected with this new passenger rail route. Rockford's right in the middle. Governor Quinn made the announcement in the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum. That new station will go up right in the cottage's backyard.  Both the passenger rail line and the station are expected create an estimated 700 jobs.

"The operation of the station will serve Rockford area mass transit, providing easy access for Amtrak passengers to and from all parts from the metropolitan area," said Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider.

People will also be able to take buses and taxis at the new station. Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey says this project will make coming to northern Illinois more attractive to investors.

"When we talk about a modern economy whether it's locally or it's with investors in China, we can talk with credibility about this state's strong commitment to our future,"

Construction of the station is set to begin in the spring. Both it and the Chicago to Dubuque rail line are expected to be finished by 2014.