1. Trends in legislation and public policy
Joseph Clary, Director, Public Transit, Railroads, and Intermodal Transport
Is High-Speed Rail Really Coming to lllinois?

2. Yes. . .
Especially because of four factors:
1.Leadership on the part of Governor Quinn.
2.Our technical experience.
3.Illinois’ strong financial commitments.
4.Reforms in public policy that will link transportation
and other funding to. . . .

3. livable workable
communitiesgreen

4. • The stimulus package created by
President Obama and Congress provides
for an initial investment of $8 billion for
high-speed and conventional passenger
rail.
• Funds are competitive: awards will be
made by the Federal Railroad
Administration.
• Additional ARRA funds are available in
TIGER grants.

5. With the leadership of Governor Quinn and the
support of local advocates, Illinois is poised to
capture some of this money:
• Improve track and signals for 110 mph on three corridors,
with emphasis on Chicago-St. Louis service.
• Improve stations.
• Relieve rail congestion in Galesburg and the Chicago region.
• Re-establish passenger-rail service to Quad Cities and
Rockford-Dubuque.

6. Criteria for these federal
competitive funds include:
1. Transportation Benefits
– Reliability
– Safety
– Efficiency
1. Financial viability
2. Linkage to permanent jobs, livable communities
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 23, 2009 / Notices

7. Factor One: Our Technical Expertise
• In 1972, Illinois began subsidizing 1 round-trip on
three 3 corridors: Chicago-St. Louis, Chicago-Quincy,
and Chicago-Carbondale.
• By 2003, Illinois was supporting 10 round-trips:
Chicago-St. Louis, Chicago-Quincy, Chicago-
Carbondale, and Chicago-Milwaukee.
Illinois is one of the leading states in
supporting passenger rail service.

8. And ridership on State-supported
trains keeps growing.
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
2006 2007 2008

9. Under the technical criteria, Illinois is in good
standing to compete for federal dollars:
• Expertise and experience: Because of our technical expertise, we
can demonstrate that our applications will result in reliable and
safe passenger rail service.
• Previous Work: Illinois has already begun to upgrade Chicago-St.
Louis to a modern high-speed rail corridor. With “Illinois First”
capital funds (1999), Illinois invested over $100 million to
upgrade track, bridges, and crossings to raise speeds on portions
of the corridor from 79 mph to 110 mph.

10. Illinois is second only to California in terms of
supporting passenger-rail service.
The capital plan produced by Governor Quinn and the
General Assembly provides at least $450 million for high-
speed and conventional rail.
With $28M per year in General Revenue Funds, lllinois
now provides 14 roundtrips per day between Chicago and
other cities.
Factor Two: Financial Commitment

11. Important to put this in context:
The U.S. Government is establishing significant changes in policy:
Factor Three: Sustainable jobs and communities
Transportation and other agencies will be using funds to promote livable, workable, green communities.

12. Trend toward sustainable jobs and communities
 Integrate planning, investment, and funding streams.
 “Maximize livability, environmental excellence, and the promotion
of green jobs.”
 Deliver more alternative transportation choices (walking, bikes,
shared cars, transit, rail, etc.)
 Proximately locate housing, employment, and other destinations.
 Safeguard rural landscapes through transit-oriented and mix-used
development.
 Promote locally generated renewable energy.
Example 1: Under their Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities,
USDOT, EPA, and HUD will:

13. Trend toward sustainable jobs and communities
1. Livable communities
2. Transportation network integration
3. Permanent jobs, particularly in disadvantaged areas
4. Environmental Quality
5. Energy Efficiency
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 23, 2009 / Notices
Example 2: FRA wants high-speed rail dollars to promote:
“

14. Trend toward sustainable jobs and communities
1. Establishes Office of Sustainable Communities
2. Mandate participation by USDOT, EPA, and HUD
3. Coordinate land-use, transportation, housing, and energy
planning, policy, and funding
4. Promote sustainable, livable, energy-efficient, location-efficient,
and reduced-emissions development.
5. Align conventional and special-purpose funding from USDOT,
EPA, and HUD to promote livable, workable, green
communities.
Example 3: Senator Dodd’s proposed
Livable Communities Act:

15. Trend toward sustainable jobs and communities
All federal agencies must establish and work to meet goals
regarding energy and environmental performance:
 Efficient, sustainable buildings
 Utilization of green technologies
 Support for sustainable communities
 Locate federal facilities in accord with USDOT, EPA, and
HUD’s inter-agency agreement
October 5, 2009
Example 4: President Obama’s Executive Order on Federal
Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic
Performance:

16. Trending toward sustainable jobs and communities
1. Working to ensure that final appropriation carries $4B for high-
speed rail (vs. Senate’s proposal for $1.2B).
2. Various bills and proposals that would link transportation and
other agency funding to:
• Sustainable Jobs
• Livable, green communities
• Environmental Quality
• Energy Efficiency
Example 4: In Congress: Halvorson, Sires, Lipinski, and others:

17. Trend toward sustainable jobs and communities
“With smart growth, affordable and convenient
housing, and seamless transit networks, we’re
going to see interconnected high-speed rail
communities that are livable, environmentally
friendly, and energy efficient.”
Joe Szabo, FRA Administrator
Example 5: The Federal Railroad Administration:

18. “Workable, livable, green communities”
Prognosis: Washington will continue utilizing transportation and
other funds as part of an over-arching effort to promote . .

19.  Help state and local partners capture federal funds.
 Revitalize economies in “rail zones.”
 Develop incentives for businesses and residences.
 Promote sustainable jobs.
 Develop smart land-use plans.
 Implement 21st
century standards for livability, energy efficiency,
and energy use.
In Illinois, Governor Quinn and railroad communities have signed MOUs to:

20. Through this State-Local collaboration:
Illinois and its rail communities will be poised to capture
federal funds tied to:
– Safe, efficient, reliable passenger-rail service.
– “Sustainable, workable, livable green communities” along our
passenger-rail corridors.
– Such amenities as housing, places to work and to visit, shops,
restaurants, services, entertainment, museums, walkways, and
open space.

21. Strategic
land-use
planning
Incentives for
jobs, housing,
and green
energy
EPA Funds
USDOT
Funds
HUD Funds
Standards for
livability,
energy
efficiency, and
energy usage
Energy & other
federal funds
What goes into a workable livable green rail community:

22. For more information about Illinois’ high-
speed rail initiative, and its connection to
jobs and livable communities:
Office of Governor Pat QuinnOffice of Governor Pat Quinn
recovery.illinois.govrecovery.illinois.gov
Joseph ClaryJoseph Clary
Joseph.clary@illinois.govJoseph.clary@illinois.gov
312-814-YYYY312-814-YYYY