News from the Illinois MPO Advisory Council

Illinois News:

Area officials query IDOT on high-speed rail preparation (State Journal Register)

Chicago-K.C. corridor ready to roll (Chicago Tribune)

CTA riders may soon use cell phones to pay for rides (Chicago SunTimes)

Daring to imagine the future (Illinois Times)

Legislators urge 150+ mph bullet trains, not 110 mph trains (Chicago Tribune)

Lower credit rating costs Illinois extra half-billion in borrowing expenses (Chicago Business)

Schock: Highway bill in need of fuel (Peoria Star)

Slow work begins for fast trains in Illinois (Alton Telegraph)

State's budget crisis could derail $1-billion plan to expand Metra rail service (Chicago Business)

Tollway revolving door, sort of, and congestion pricing (Daily Herald)

National News:

A New Way To Pay? (National Journal - Transportation Experts)

Bike, pedestrian plan wins national award (Nashville Business Journal)

Interview with Mary Peters - First Steps for Obama's DOT, Seen Through a Bush Administration Lens (Transportation Nation)

Livability Case Studies (Transportation For America)

New rail standards foster safety, inter-operability, and American manufacturing jobs (USDOT blog)

NYC Sustainable Streets Index reports positive results of infrastructure improvements (Center for Transportation Research)

Tri-City Port District builds on-ramp to Marine Highway (USDOT blog)