Halpin Pushes to Fund High-Speed Rail Connecting Moline and Chicago

​SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, made strides for mass transit expansion with his successful bid to include funding for high-speed rail development in Illinois’ recent capital bill.

“High-speed rail systems are the future of mass transit, and Illinois has to keep up,” Halpin said. “This form of transportation is faster, cleaner and more efficient than our other options. It burns less fuel, cuts down on travel time and will connect communities that, until now, have been too far apart to commute to regularly. This project will also attract more visitors to our region.”

Halpin worked to get $225 million allocated to fund construction of the high-speed rail project linking the city of Moline to Chicago. He previously pushed for this project in 2015, but it was put on hold by former-Governor Rauner. The development now has bipartisan support, as Halpin was joined by republicans state Senator Neil Anderson and state Representative Tony McCombie.

“Trains are cheaper and faster than cars, and developing a high-speed railway in Moline will put the Quad Cities on the map as a major hub for transportation,” Halpin said. “Not only will the high-speed train be a better option for commuters, it may ultimately save lives, because half an hour on a train is much safer than an hour on the highway surrounded by other drivers. It’s time Illinois takes this step forward.”