Possible new Metra lines (Chicago, Rockford: condos, home, employment)

[klog]

I hear a lot of rumors, but can anyone shed some light on the status of Metra extending lines on the UP Northwest from Harvard or the line that goes out to Elburn? I hear Rockford, Beloit, Janesville.

Thanks

[HOWELL_STREET]

The Chicago to Elburn via the Union Pacific 'West Line' has already been built. Service started around February of this year. From Elburn, the stations include, Elburn, La Fox, Geneva, West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and every town east of that to Chicago.
It is my 'dream' that the railroad service will eventually continue to De Kalb, the home of Northern Illinois University. However, that may take quite a few years into the future.
West of Elburn, there is no passenger railroad service. The Amtrak system goes through Earlville, IL - - quite a few miles south of De Kalb.

[oakparkdude]

There's talk of intiating Amtrak service to Rockford/Galena/Dubuque via Elgin. Apparently, theres a good chance this could actually happen within a few years.

Additionally, there are more preliminary plans to build the STAR line which will start in Rosemont, head up along I-90 to Barrington area, and then south through West Chicago and Naperville and terminate in Joliet. Its an attempt to get away from the hub and spoke model and facilitate suburb to suburb commutes. Who knows if and when this will be built.

[prairiestate]

There are a lot of badly needed extensions proposed, but none of them will ever happen. It will be a small miracle if they can get enough money just to maintain there existing service.

[HOWELL_STREET]

I spent the day visiting with my son in Cortland, IL. And for lunch, I visited the Mac Donalds restaurant that is across the street from the old railroad station in De Kalb. Although there may be another DeKalb station, the one I know about is at Lincoln Highway (IL-38) and sixth street. There are only two parallel tracks past that old railroad station. And since the frieght railroad traffic is very heavy all the way to Chicago, it would be difficult to assimulate a passenger system integrated into those two tracks. Another problem is that - - assuming NIU students and relatives as the main constituents - - that railroad station is approximately two or three miles east of the NIU campus. So does NIU extend its local bus routes to include a route to any future passenger rail service at that old station? It sounds very expensive like previous people have mentioned in this thread.

Best Regards,

Carter Glass

[reppin_the_847]

I take it that you're from DeKalb? Do you commute to Chicago for work, or would you primarily use such a rail service (it was available) more for leisure trips into the city?

Originally Posted by HOWELL_STREET

The Chicago to Elburn via the Union Pacific 'West Line' has already been built. Service started around February of this year. From Elburn, the stations include, Elburn, La Fox, Geneva, West Chicago, Winfield, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn and every town east of that to Chicago.
It is my 'dream' that the railroad service will eventually continue to De Kalb, the home of Northern Illinois University. However, that may take quite a few years into the future.
West of Elburn, there is no passenger railroad service. The Amtrak system goes through Earlville, IL - - quite a few miles south of De Kalb.

[HOWELL_STREET]

My son lives in Cortland, IL and I reside in Wheaton. My son has taken the passenger trains between Wheaton and Elburn. I have lived in the Chicago area for about fifty years.
The new Elburn railroad station is not in the city of Elburn. The new station is in a corn field about 3/4 miles east of Elburn. One gets to that station by IL-47 south, then Kesslinger Road, east.
Personally, as my opinion, I don't expect that there would be much passenger service between De Kalb and Chicago - - for daily employment commuters who worked somewhere towards Chicago. The reason?
For employment, the tri-cities of DeKalb, Sycamore and Cortland seem self sufficient. In addition, the De Kalb to downtown Chicago distance is approximately 60 miles. If you want a very precise distance, then check MapQuest.
Anyone attempting to drive that distance prior to any future railroad service to DeKalb, would have a very difficult trip each day. As a guess, perhaps a three hour drive during rush hours?

[ToddR]

My girlfriend drives from Oak Park to NIU at DeKalb for work, it takes her about 1.5 hrs each way, much more if there is the slightest hiccup.

Having Metra out to DeKalb would be a dream come true for her.

[via chicago]

that would all be great, except many dekalb residents have strongly opposed a metra stop.

and while the STAR line would be nice...i dont see it happening in any of our lifetimes. at least not unless a new priority is placed on public transit. in the meantime, we'll keep wasting hundreds of millions on adding new lanes to highways under the delusion that its actually somehow going to alleviate congestion.

[Jeff Hill]

The rumors you hear are correct. Belvidere already has the plans approved and ready to rock. They are already in the process of re-vamping their downtown area to accommodate the line. There is also a "high density" area that will be developed right along I-90 across the street (to the south) from the Chrysler plant. This high density area will have a main terminal for the Metra that will include several shops in the main level with condos built on top. Belvidere will actually have two stops along the line with one being their "high density" area and the other being right in the downtown area.
This is the Big Timber line, which currently ends in Elgin. It will extend to the north, through Huntley and Marengo.

The long term plan is to have the same line extend all the way up to Madison WI. Of course, that's several years away though.

Here is a link to the drawing/diagram as to where the line will run.

Feel free to PM me for additional information.