The Town of Normal is taking steps to build a temporary, level railroad crossing to allow Amtrak passengers to use a second platform, which will available when the state begins using high speed trains within the next year. The Town Council originally looked at building an overpass, or bridge, to allow passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists to cross the tracks as part of Constitution Trail, but that was put on hold when an underpass was proposed
City Manager Mark Peterson said the temporary crossing is necessary, regardless of which permanent crossing they decide to build. "Even with the overpass, there would probably have to be some temporary, at-grade crossing, but very short-term. Now, the underpass is a longer-term proposition. We've got a lot of work to do between now and when that is constructed." He said the temporary crossing could be there for as long as five years to allow the council time to do more studies and make a choice.
Peterson said the crossing itself could cost up to $500 thousand dollars, which brings the cost of getting Uptown Station ready for high-speed rail to over $1 million. "You're going to have pedestrian gates, you're going to have to have other electronic warning devices, and just the actual construction of the crossing over the tracks is not insignificant." He said the funding source is unknown, but the town hopes to use money from the Illinois Department of Transportation. "We believe that we can use High-Speed Rail money for that, and, in fact, the Secretary of Transportation has committed to just that."
Peterson said the half million dollar estimate will become more exact once a study is done on costs and length of time to build the crossing. He said the whole project might be done before fall. "I would say it's probably four to six months away, is my guess, but I can't say that for sure." Once the study is finished by the railroad, the town will have to come to an agreement with them to pay for the project before construction can begin.
Normal is also looking to hire a company to begin a two-year study on creating an underpass at Uptown Station, which will help the Normal Town Council decide if they prefer that over an overpass. That study could start as early as this summer.