Passenger rail service doesn’t connect Peoria to Chicago – yet. The city and IDOT commissioned a study to highlight the impact the route could have on the city and other stops along the way. Former Congressman and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood says the study shows ridership will be strong and the federal government should get behind it.

The study indicated that an average of 600 riders a day would take AMTRAK along the route. The new service would have to get right-of-way on existing freight train tracks and billions of dollars in additional government spending.