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                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:***

Tier 1
	Springfield Rail Improvements Project***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: AppendicesChicago 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
              
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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