Springfield advances rail project with $157M federal boost

Springfield, Illinois, is making progress in its effort to reduce rail congestion and improve urban connectivity. In a major development for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has fully obligated $157.1 million in federal funding for the final segment of the SRIP, ensuring that construction can continue moving forward on remaining phases.

The announcement follows the recent opening of new underpasses at Madison and Jefferson streets. The completion of these underpasses represents part of a decade-long effort that has already delivered five new underpasses and the reconstruction of four others throughout the city. The $13.5 million project was funded through a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant from USDOT.

The multiyear Springfield Rail Improvements Project addresses multiple transportation challenges that have long affected downtown Springfield. By consolidating train traffic from Third Street to 10th Street and constructing a series of overpasses and underpasses along the corridor, the project aims to reduce congestion, improve safety and make it easier to get between neighborhoods without a vehicle.

The final segment of the project will involve critical rail improvements and track realignment to consolidate the Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern corridors into one multitrack corridor through the city. This consolidation will support efforts to provide a higher speed intercity passenger rail connection between St. Louis and Chicago.

A key component of the final phase includes the construction of a new Amtrak station in Springfield, which will be part of a larger Multimodal Transportation Center. This center will enhance public transportation connectivity among intercity passenger rail, local bus service and intercity bus service, creating a more integrated and efficient transportation network for residents and visitors.

The new underpasses eliminate dangerous at-grade rail crossings, reducing the risk of accidents and allowing emergency vehicles to move more efficiently throughout the city. The city anticipates the reduction in train-related traffic delays will also improve economic activity in the downtown area.

Photo Courtesy
Adam Moss via Wikimedia Commons
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