HR1597 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1597 LRB095 22993 AJO 53465 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is the oldest partner with Amtrak in state-sponsored intercity passenger rail service in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois passenger rail program is the second largest state-sponsored Amtrak program in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois invests more than $28.7 million each year in payments to Amtrak to provide citizens with state-sponsored service; and

WHEREAS, For decades Amtrak had a crew base in Galesburg, Illinois that employed 35 citizens of the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Rail workers in Galesburg are recognized as some of the finest in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak closed the Galesburg crew base in 2000 and transferred a majority of the assignments out of state, with some transferring to Chicago; and

WHEREAS, This cost the State of Illinois more than 20 good paying jobs and negatively affected the livelihood of its rail workers; and

WHEREAS, This loss of 35 good paying jobs also harmed the local economy of Galesburg, Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that Amtrak perform a cost and operational analysis to determine the benefits of reopening the Galesburg crew base; and be it further

RESOLVED, That Amtrak share this analysis with IDOT and, if appropriate, take the steps necessary to reopen the Galesburg crew base and return these jobs from out of state; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this Resolution be provided to the President of Amtrak and each member of the Illinois congressional delegation.