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The Federal Railroad Administration and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a series of public meetings later this month as part of the Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study for the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail corridor.

Potential route alternatives for HSR service between Chicago and St. Louis will be presented in the second round of public hearings, which will be held Oct. 24-27 and Nov. 2-3, IDOT officials said in a statement posted the Illinois High Speed Rail Project website, www.idothsr.org.

The meetings are the next step in the Tier 1 EIS, which will identify improvements for accommodating higher-speed trains and additional daily round trips along the corridor, IDOT officials said.

Meanwhile, Union Pacific Railroad plans to issue a request for proposals for the Tier 1N bid package on the project between Dwight and Pontiac, Ill., according to the website. UP is seeking contractors for environmental permitting, as well as track and roadway reconstruction.

The track reconstruction work would include removal of existing bridge structure, retired abutment and pier foundations and retired signal foundations; removal and disposal of existing track; turnout removal; grading, drainage and erosion control; and track construction.

To be performed at 28 grade crossings, roadway reconstruction would include pavement removal; grading, pavement construction; pavement marking and signing; traffic control plan submittal; erosion control; seeding; storm sewer work; signal coordination; and fence construction.