PEORIA, Ill. – Peoria City officials are holding a meeting next week that could lead to a potential site for a passenger rail train station.
An open house by the city and the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission will be held Thursday, April 21, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Gateway Building on Northeast Water Street.
The city says the area around the Gateway Building has been identified as a potential site for a Peoria train stop, along with the area around River Station, formerly known as the Rock Island Depot, and the area around the State Street Post Office.
“We know from the data that the community interest in passenger rail is high, and we look forward to hearing more about train station locations,” said Mayor Rita Ali, in a news release. “Not only are accessibility and parking key considerations, but also the surrounding area. If you look at communities that already have passenger rail, you will see retail and restaurants thriving in the immediate vicinity further enhancing their towns and creating a valuable revenue stream.”
A group of officials including former Congressman and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, along with Mayor Rita Ali, have formed a group proposing a new Amtrak route between Peoria and Chicago.
