SPRINGFIELD, Ill. A bill for continued state funding of the Amtrak Illini route passed a state legislative hearing committee Tuesday, following testimony in favor of the route by representatives from SIUC, the Carbondale community and state legislators.

After federal budget cuts, state legislators have asked for a $2.5 million subsidy to continue the train Illini, which links Carbondale to Chicago, through June 30. The bill will now move on to the House of Representatives for discussion.

State Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said the bill will face debate once it moves to the House floor. However, he said he believes it still has a chance at being passed.

Advertisement

I still believe we can get it passed, but it will take a lot of lobbying, Bost said.

Bost said if the bill does pass the House and the Senate and is signed by Gov. Jim Edgar, the $2.5 million subsidy will just be enough to get the Illini route through the fiscal year.

Bost told the committee that many observers and participants at the hearing had been working hard to encourage people’s support. He said the Amtrak Illini route issue is tremendously important for jobs that boost the economy.

This loss would hurt us tremendously, Bost said.

Garrett Deakin, director of government relations at SIUC emphasized how dependent the University is on train transportation and the affects its loss would have. He said 42 percent of ridership on the Illini route comes from SIUC students.

SIU is dependent on accessible and affordable transportation, Deakin said. One-third of the students (at SIUC) come from upstate. The train makes this University accessible.

In appealing the Amtrak route, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce President Rebecca Whittington said SIUC is the largest employer in Southern Illinois. She said roughly one-third of SIUC students come from Chicago counties.

Advertisement*

We cannot survive on a decline in enrollment, Whittington said. This economy is already fragile from a loss of support for the coal mining and farming. If you take away Amtrak, you make Southern Illinois more dependent on the state.

Whittington said losing Amtrak would be an undertow that would pull down the community of Carbondale. She said Amtrak is vital to keep economic viability for Carbondale and surrounding areas.

All supporters of Amtrak, including Bost said they want only enough state support for the route to make it through the fiscal year. All present agreed they would work together to make Amtrak profitable in the future.

Also in attendance at the hearing was Carbondale Mayor Neil Dillard. Dillard told the committee he realized how important Amtrak was to Carbondale and Southern Illinois after Christmas break when students were returning back to school by way of Amtrak.

Dillard said he would be willing to work with the University, Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation on making Amtrak less dependent on taxpayers.

John Rednour, mayor of DuQuoin, a city also included in the route, told the committee that in order for a community to grow and prosper, it needs the support of train transportation.

Sen. David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, said that Amtrak being cut hit Southern Illinois quickly, and he said the area needs time to work on finding a permanent solution. He also said he had received an overwhelming amount of concern from his constituents over the loss of Amtrak in Southern Illinois.

I think the Governor put forth a statement that he would like to see support, Luechtefeld said. I have received more mail on this particular issue than anything else during my term.

Daily Egyptian Reporter Lori D. Clark also contributed to this article.