"It's not if, it's when."
That was the message Denise Bulat, executive director of the Bi-State Regional Commission, shared with the Geneseo City Council Tuesday evening as she updated members on the long-discussed Chicago-to-Quad Cities passenger rail project.
Closing her presentation, Bulat told council members she believes "there's a light at the end of the train tunnel," pointing to recent state funding commitments and renewed regional collaboration as signs the project is moving closer to reality.
Bulat's presentation before the Committee of the Whole was intended to provide historical context and an update on where the project stands today. No action was requested from the Council.
More Than Two Decades in the Making
Bulat reminded council members that major transportation projects often require decades of planning, engineering, environmental review, and funding before construction begins.
She said the Amtrak feasibility study alone took about 10 years to complete after work began in the late 1990s. Drawing on her own experience, Bulat compared the project to the new Interstate 74 bridge between Moline and Bettendorf.
"I was working on the I-74 bridge project since 1994," she said, noting that construction was not completed until 2021.
"Transportation takes a long time," Bulat said.
Funding Picture Has Improved
While acknowledging that one hurdle remains, Bulat said the project's financial outlook is significantly stronger than it was just a year ago.
She explained that the Illinois General Assembly approved more than $400 million in gap funding during last year's veto session, providing the money needed for the project to continue moving forward.
The remaining issue is an extension of approximately $78 million in federal funding through the Federal Railroad Administration. Illinois Department of Transportation officials are seeking that extension, and Bulat said indications remain positive.
"They now have the money they need to continue to proceed on this project," she told council members.
According to the meeting packet, IDOT officials were unable to attend Tuesday's meeting because the federal funding request is still pending but plan to present to the Council once the process is complete.
Questions About Local Benefits
Councilmember Craig Arnold asked whether studies have examined how passenger rail affects smaller communities.
Bulat said she was not aware of research specific to communities like Geneseo but pointed to several potential benefits.
She said the proposed station would provide Henry County residents with a convenient place to park and travel to Chicago without driving downtown. She also suggested passenger rail could make Geneseo more attractive to professionals who work in Chicago but prefer living in a smaller community.
Bulat noted that officials in Moline have discussed similar possibilities, including retaining Illinois residents whose work requires frequent trips to Chicago.
She also emphasized that reliable service is key, noting current planning calls for two daily round trips between the Quad Cities and Chicago with a travel time of roughly three hours and 15 minutes.
That schedule, she said, would allow business travelers to work on the train instead of spending hours behind the wheel or searching for parking in downtown Chicago.
Council Reflects on Years of Planning
Councilmember Keith Kennett, who has been involved with the project since Geneseo first pursued a station, reflected on the City's early participation.
Kennett recalled traveling with former City Administrator Tracy Koteki to meetings with Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation, where they met officials from communities that either had passenger rail service or were working to obtain it.
He also described taking the train from Princeton to Chicago several times and meeting commuters who lived in Princeton while working in Chicago.
"I don't think it's going to double our population," Kennett said, "but I think it is something to be aware of. That's kind of an intangible asset of having that."
Kennett also said he believes the project lost several years of momentum after state funding was withdrawn during a previous administration before eventually being restored. He acknowledged residents' frustration with the lengthy timeline but said he believes the project is now closer than it has been in years.
"The game isn't over," Kennett said. "We're in the late innings."
Questions About the City's Commitment
Councilmember Brett Barnhart questioned how long Geneseo should continue reserving land for a station if the project experiences additional delays.
Bulat responded that she expects IDOT and project leaders, including former Illinois Deputy Secretary of Transportation Doug House, to provide updated timelines once the federal funding issue is resolved. She said communities would be informed if circumstances changed significantly but emphasized that project leaders remain focused on moving forward.
"Moline already built their station," Bulat said. "Everyone is working really hard toward getting this."
"It's not if, it's when," she said. "There's a light at the end of the train tunnel."
Mayor Sean Johnson thanked Bulat for the presentation, saying council members regularly receive questions from residents about passenger rail.
"We're just a hungry community for answers," Johnson said. He added that the historical overview, resolutions, and planning milestones discussed during the presentation would help council members better answer those questions in the future.