Open up rail decisions
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been invested in planning for a multimodal facility along the 10th St. corridor, as well as other projects that will no longer be feasible if Third St. is to become the primary rail line through the city.

At this point, it appears that litigation may be the only option if a consensus cannot be reached before the deadline. IDOT and Union Pacific have been saying this is a “done deal” since it was first made public, and we do not believe they have tried to negotiate a compromise in good faith. Springfield represents just 4.4 miles of a 300-mile railway, and many people believe that this project is critical for Illinois as a whole. We would also like to see economic development and growth for the state, but not at the expense of our capital city. Our two main industries for future growth are tourism and health care, and both would be decimated by the current proposal.

The clock is ticking, and we are asking Gov. Quinn, Sen. Durbin, and IDOT Secretary Hannig to engage in dialogue with the citizens of Springfield and our elected representatives to find a solution. We cannot accept the current proposal to make Third St. the primary rail line through the heart of our city, and we will not accept a half-hearted promise of future examination.

Michelle Higginbotham is one of the founders of the Grassroots Coalition for Consolidation, a group representing neighborhoods, businesses and community organizations that oppose the Third St. rail plan.