Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail Corridor Program
Environmental Impact Statement
FRA is the lead federal agency and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is the joint-lead state agency for the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Chicago to St. Louis High-Speed Rail (HSR) Corridor Program. The EIS for the Chicago to St. Louis HSR Corridor Program includes the Springfield Rail Improvements Project.
This EIS sets the stage for the next phase of investment in the Chicago to St. Louis corridor beyond the current construction program. Goals of the next stage are railroad capacity enhancement to support and passenger train service improvements including frequency, reliability, and trip time. The four build alternatives considered in the EIS provide double track along the corridor and allow for eight daily round trips at 110 miles per hour (mph).
The Final EIS includes two volumes for the Chicago to St. Louis HSR Program: Volume 1 of the Final EIS provides a Tier 1 assessment of the 280‐mile corridor between Chicago and St. Louis; Volume 2 of the Final EIS provides a detailed, site-specific (Tier 2) assessment of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project. IDOT and FRA have selected alternatives in the Final EIS for the Chicago to St. Louis Corridor Program and the Springfield Rail Improvements Project.
Selected Alternatives:
- Chicago to Joliet – The Rock Island Metra Route, including a connection with Norfolk Southern to service Union Station, is the Preferred Alternative. (see corridor map)
- Springfield – The Selected Alternative for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project is Alternative 2A that relocates passenger and Union Pacific Railroad freight traffic to an expanded 10th Street rail right-of-way, with roadway grade separations at 10th and 19th Streets, along with improvements that will allow the implementation of quiet zone. (see Springfield map)
- Alton to St. Louis – The eastern alignment along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River utilizing the MacArthur Bridge is the Preferred Alternative.
FRA Records of Decision (ROD) were executed on December 18, 2012:
Final EIS documents for download: (Note: many of these files are very large and could take up to several minutes to download.)
Volume 1
- Volume I–Signature Page
- Volume I –Table of Contents and Acronyms
- Volume I – Summary
- Volume I - Section 1 – Introduction
- Volume I - Section 2 –Purpose and Need for Action
- Volume I - Section 3 – Alternatives
- Volume I - Section 4 –Affected Environment
- Volume I - Section 5 – Environmental Consequences
- Volume I - Section 6 –Transportation Impacts
- Volume I - Section 7 – Implementation Plan
- Volume I - Section 8 –Comments and Coordination
- Volume I - Section 9 – List of Preparers
- Volume I - Section 10 - Distribution of the Tier 1 Final EIS
- Volume I - Section 11 – References
- Volume I - Appendix A – Alternative Exhibits
- Volume I - Appendix B – Prime Farmlands
- Volume I - Appendix C – Threatened and Endangered Species
- Volume I - Appendix D – Special Waste
- Volume I - Appendix E – Potential Grade Separation Crossings and Protection Measures
- Volume I - Appendix F – Agency Coordination
- Volume I - Appendix G–Federal Register Notice of Intent
- Volume I - Appendix H – Tier 1 Draft EIS Public Hearings Summary
Volume 2
- Volume II – Table of Contents
- Volume II –Summary
- Volume II - Section 1 – Introduction
- Volume II - Section 2–Purpose and Need for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project
- Volume II - Section 3 – Alternatives
- Volume II - Section 4 –Affected Environment
- Volume II - Section 5 – Environmental Consequences
- Volume II - Section 6 –Comments and Coordination
- Volume II - Section 7 – List of Preparers
- Volume II - Section 8–Distribution of the Final EIS
- Volume II - Section 9 – References
- Volume II - Appendix A – Correspondence
- Volume II - Appendix B –Alternatives 2A and 2B Exhibits
- Volume II - Appendix C–Environmental Justice Analysis Technical Report
- Volume II - Appendix D – Special Waste
- Volume II - Appendix E – Public Involvement
- Volume II - Appendix F–Public Hearing Documentation
Draft EIS documents for download: (Note: many of these files are very large and could take up to several minutes to download.)
VOLUME 1:
- Tier 1 Cover, Table of Contents, Summary
- Section 1: Tier 1 Introduction
- Section 2: Tier 1 Purpose and Need
- Section 3: Tier 1 Alternatives
- Section 4: Tier 1 Affected Environment
- Section 5: Tier 1 Environmental Consequences
- Section 6: Tier 1 Transportation Impacts
- Section 7: Tier 1 Implementation Plan
- Section 8: Tier 1 Comments and Coordination
- Section 9: Tier 1 Preparers
- Section 10: Tier 1 Distribution
- Section 11: Tier 1 References
VOLUME 2:
- Tier 2 Cover, Table of Contents
- Section 1: Tier 2 Introduction
- Section 2: Tier 2 Purpose and Need
- Section 3: Tier 2 Alternatives
- Section 4: Tier 2 Affected Environment
- Section 5: Tier 2 Environmental Consequences
- Section 6: Tier 2 Comments and Coordination
- Section 7: Tier 2 Preparers
- Section 8: Tier 2 Distribution
- Section 9: Tier 2 References
APPENDICES:
- Appendix A: Alternative Exhibits
- Appendix B: Prime Farmlands
- Appendix C: Threatened and Endangered
- Appendix D: Special Waste
- Appendix E: Grade Separation and Protection
- Appendix F : Agency Coordination
- Appendix G: Federal Register Notice of Intent
- Volume 2: Appendices
Chicago to St. Louis HSR Corridor List
The Draft EIS is also available for viewing at the following locations along the Chicago to St. Louis HSR Corridor:
- Hayner Library, 326 Belle Street, Alton, IL 62002
- Atlanta Public Library District, 100 Race Street, Atlanta, IL 61723
- Auburn Public Library, 338 West Jefferson Street, Auburn, IL 62615
- Bloomington Public Library, 205 East Olive Street, Bloomington, IL 61701
- Blue Island Library, 2433 York Street, Blue Island, IL 60406
- Fossil Ridge Public Library, 386 West Kennedy Road, Braidwood, IL 60408
- Brighton Memorial Public Library, 110 North Main Street, Brighton, IL 62012
- Carlinville Public Library, 510 North Broad Street, Carlinville, IL 62626
- Chatham Area Public Library, 600 East Spruce Street, Chatham, IL 62629
- Chenoa Public Library District, 211 South Division Street, Chenoa, IL 61726
- Chicago Public Library-Harold Washington, 400 South State Street, Chicago, IL 60605
- Prairie Creek Public Library, 501 Carriage House Lane, Dwight, IL 60420
- East Alton Public Library, 250 Washington Avenue, East Alton, IL 62024
- East St. Louis Public Library, 5300 State Street, East St. Louis, IL 62203
- Elkhart Public Library District, 121 East Bohan Street, Elkhart, IL 62634
- Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District, 240 Whitson Street, Manhattan, IL 60442
- Frankfort Public Library District, 21119 South Pfeiffer Road, Frankfort, IL 60423
- Girard Township Library, 201 West Madison Street, Girard, IL 62640
- Six Mile Regional Library District, 2001 Delmar Avenue, Granite City, IL 62040
- Hartford Public Library District, 143 West Hawthorne Street, Hartford, IL 62048
- Joliet Public Library, 150 North Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL 60432
- Lemont Public Library, 50 East Wend Street, Lemont, IL 60439
- Lexington Public Library District, 207 South Cedar Street, Lexington, IL 61753
- Lincoln Public Library, 725 Peking Street, Lincoln, IL 62656
- Lockport Public Library, 121 East 8th Street, Lockport, IL 60441
- Madison Public Library, 1700 Fifth Street, Madison, IL 62060
- Mount Hope-Funks Grove Public Library, 111 South Hamilton Street, McLean, IL 61754
- Midlothian Public Library, 14701 South Kenton Avenue, Midlothian, IL 60445
- Mokena Community Public Library, 11327 West 195th Street, Mokena, IL 60448
- New Lenox Public Library, 120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, IL 60451
- Normal Public Library, 206 West College Avenue, Normal, IL 61761
- Acorn Public Library District, 15624 South Central Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452
- Odell Public Library District, 301 East Richard Street, Odell, IL 60460
- Orland Park Public Library, 14921 South Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, IL 60462
- Pontiac Public Library, 211 East Madison Street, Pontiac, IL 61764
- William Leonard Public Library District, 13820 Central Park Avenue, Robbins, IL 60472
- Sherman Public Library District, 2100 East Andrew Road, Sherman, IL 62684
- Springfield Lincoln Library, 326 South Seventh Street, Springfield, IL 62701
- St. Louis Central Library, 1310 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
- Summit Public Library District, 6233 South Archer Road, Summit, IL 60501
- Tinley Park Public Library, 7851 Timber Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477
- Towanda District Library, 301 South Taylor Street, Towanda, IL 61776
- Venice Public Library, 325 Broadway Avenue, Venice, IL 62090
- Grand Prairie of the West Public Library District, 142 West Jackson Street, Virden, IL 62690
- Williamsville Public Library, 141 West Main Street, Williamsville, IL 62693
- Wilmington Public Library District, 201 South Kankakee Street, Wilmington, IL 60481
- Wood River Public Library, 326 East Ferguson Avenue, Wood River, IL 62095