By Eric Bradner, Evansville Courier & Press
INDIANAPOLIS - A passenger rail system connecting Evansville and Chicago could become a possibility under legislation the Indiana House cleared this week.
The Indiana Department of Transportation would get $300,000 to study whether a commuter railway along the state's Illinois border is feasible if the legislation survives joint House-Senate conference committee negotiations in the final two weeks of this year's session.
Rep. Dennis Avery, D-Evansville, tacked funding for the study onto Senate Bill 374, which was one of many bills lawmakers advanced this week just before the Legislature's deadline for passing bills.
"I believe there are some people that would much prefer to put their car in the garage and take the train," Avery said.
Avery said the study would breathe new life into an old idea, and he said a western Indiana system could tie into the major national commitment to light rail that President Barack Obama announced Thursday.
Obama outlined his plans for a rail network he said would change the way Americans travel. He proposed using $8 billion in stimulus money as a "down payment" on such a network.
The network Obama unveiled amplifies Chicago's role as a key hub and includes high-speed routes that would connect Chicago to Indianapolis, and then Indianapolis to both Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati. But Evansville wouldn't be connected to those routes.
Obama's network also includes a lower-speed route that departs from Chicago and passes along Illinois' eastern border. That would reach closer to Southwestern Indiana, but still wouldn't touch Evansville.
Close to network
Avery said the fact that major Indiana cities such as Evansville and Terre Haute are close to the network "basically points out the importance of having a study to see if western Indiana would be a desirable route."
Avery said he's not seeking a high-speed rail route, but he is asking for a lower-cost rail system that could support speeds up to 70 mph.
The federal stimulus package included $80 million for public transportation in Indiana. Of that money, $60 million went to urban systems and the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District. An additional $3 million went to intercity bus projects.
Avery said with all those funds available, now is a "good time to request money for a study."
The idea of a passenger rail connecting Chicago to Evansville to Southern states has been debated for more than two decades. Avery said it was particularly close to becoming reality in 1994.
New day for rail
That changed when an electoral upheaval removed Democrats from power in Congress, costing the possible rail system some key advocates in states along the route. The focus of transportation system discussions switched almost exclusively to roads.
"Well, it's a new day, and we have a new administration," Avery said.