I’ve been perusing the proposed McHenry County 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
Certainly, many people have read it over and over to find mistakes.
One that could not have been envision was the Village of Huntley’s deciding it did not want a train stop in town.
So, what to do with the 2050 Comprehensive entry below:
Continue study of environmental issues, ridership potential, rail operations and infrastructure needs, and capital costs associated with extending commuter rail service on the Milwaukee District West line to Huntley and Marengo.
Currently, the southwest region lacks fixed-route transportation options, making the extension of commuter rail service on the Milwaukee District West line vital for enhancing accessibility and connectivity.
To move forward, McHenry County should continue to thoroughly examine the environmental impacts, potential ridership, infrastructure requirements, and associated capital costs while ensuring the protection and or proper relocation of the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairie Trail.
Amtrak has indicated no interest in participation.
Coordinating with Huntley, Union, and Marengo on station area planning will assist with seamless integration and efficient service delivery.
Additionally, the County should explore collaborative opportunities with future Amtrak services to further optimize regional transportation networks.
By prioritizing these efforts, McHenry County can address transportation needs effectively and foster
sustainable growth in underserved areas.
Whether or not trains stop in Huntley is irrelevant to getting service to Rockford a local TV station reported.
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It seems providing commuter service to and from Huntley for about 200 commuters didn’t pass the cost-benefit test.
A stop without a station wouldn’t cost much.
Marengo has shown some interest replacing Huntley on a Metra extension.
Anyway, it appears the County 2050 Plan could use revision.
Just found another section needing editing:
