Manzullo Asks for Cash for Randall Road, Metra to Huntley & Marengo

A press release from Don Manzullo:

Manzullo Seeks Federal Funds for Major Road, Rail Projects in McHenry County

[WASHINGTON] Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today requested significant federal funding for priority road and rail projects in McHenry County as part of the next long-range surface transportation funding bill Congress will consider later this year.

Requested projects include:

  • Randall Road widening project – The $115 million project calls for widening Randall Road for 3.5 miles and improving the intersections from the McHenry/Kane county line north to Ackman Road. Federal funds would help cover the Phase I and Phase II engineering phases, including land acquisition for the project. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2014.
  • Passenger Rail from Chicago through McHenry County to Dubuque, IA – This $185 million project involves extending passenger rail along the Union Pacific tracks from the Elgin Big Timber station through Huntley, Marengo, Belvidere, Rockford, Freeport, Galena to Dubuque, IA. Federal funding could be used for engineering, right-of-way acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of the Union Pacific rail corridor to allow for extended commuter rail service to Rockford and the return of Amtrak service to northern Illinois. Working with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Manzullo secured $2.4 million in the last federal road bill to help fund the initial studies for the rail extension.

“Randall Road is traveled daily by tens of thousands of McHenry County motorists and is in need of widening to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. Extended passenger rail through Huntley and Marengo would provide needed transportation alternatives to driving for McHenry County residents,” Manzullo said.

“These federal funds would go a long way to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and clean the environment in McHenry County.”

Manzullo has secured significant federal funding for the Western Bypass of Algonquin ($19 million), the Rakow Road widening project in Crystal Lake and Lake in the Hills ($6.4 million), and the Route 47 widening project through Huntley ($6.7 million).

In addition, he worked with Senators Durbin and Obama and the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation to secure an additional $6.2 billion in federal road funds in 2005 for the State of Illinois, a record 30 percent increase from the prior bill.

= = = = =
You see a winter day on Randall Road and a Union Pacific freight train speeding through Marengo.


Comments

Manzullo Asks for Cash for Randall Road, Metra to Huntley & Marengo — 3 Comments

  1. Besides “campaign” for needed road improvements, does Manzullo do anything noteworthy (in a good way)?

    Because, I haven’t seen anything…

  2. Instead of expanding big timber to huntley/marengo/etc (which is a GOOD idea) why not get a Metra station for Algonquin? I mean, honestly!! Elgin has a station, so does Crystal Lake, Cary, Fox River Grove. But not Algonquin? I realize it’s not the biggest town, but cmon..

  3. Algonquin's chance at a railroad connection disappeared when the McHenry County Conservation District turned its railroad right-of-way into a bike & hiking path.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *