The Northern Illinois Commuter Transportation Initiative's (NICTI) Alternative Analysis Study is complete and the NICTI Executive Committee unanimously approved the UP rail line route, beginning in Big Timber, going through Huntley, Marengo Belvidere and ending in Rockford.

On May 29th, the Rockford Area Transportation Study (RATS), the area's metropolitan planning organization, accepted the recommendation from the NICTI Executive committee and RATS then voted unanimously in favor of the route.

The NICTI project management team is now developing a plan to propose moving the Amtrak project to the Chicago-Belvidere-Rockford route in order to improve the travel times and eliminate areas of cost duplication that could occur if both lines operate on a different route.

Dave Taylor, NICTI chairman, is very excited about the positive economic impact that commuter rail service will bring to Boone and Winnebago Counties.

"There are still a number of challenges that will need to be met but I feel that the successful track record established by NICTI will provide the momentum to move this project forward," stated Taylor.

Belvidere Mayor Fred Brereton sees the selected rail route as being instrumental enhancing the competitiveness and economic position of Belvidere in the northern Illinois Region.

Mayor Brereton said, "Once passenger rail service is restored, it will enhance Belvidere's role as the bridge between the Rockford Metropolitan Area and the Chicago Metropolitan Area, providing greater opportunities for job growth, investments and an improved quality of life."