The IL state senate's 51-2 passage of a bill creating the Illinois and Midwest High Speed Rail Commission on March 18 is a major step toward planning the 150+ mph train from Chicago to St. Louis.
The new rail commission makes Illinois a major player, along with California and Florida, in competing for federal high speed rail stimulus funds.
"On (March 18), the Illinois Senate passed a bill creating the Illinois and Midwest High Speed Rail Commission (SB 2571). The 12-member commission would issue a road map by March 2011 on how best to structure a public-private partnership to design, build and operate a high-speed rail system at speeds of 150 miles per hour and greater.
It is the latest in a string of successes that have built strong momentum behind high-speed rail. The Illinois capital bill contains $400 million for high-speed rail projects."
The Chicago-St. Louis corridor received $1.1 billion in stimulus money on Jan. 28 to run three round trips daily.
Thanks to Kenyon Karl
FULL STORY: Illinois passes bill creating HSR Commission
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