FRA, three states unveil draft environmental analysis for Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac corridor

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) along with departments of transportation in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois have prepared a Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate passenger-rail improvements for the Chicago-Detroit-Pontiac corridor.

The statement reviews the proposed project's purpose and need, identifies reasonable route alternatives, describes the affected environment, and analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the alternatives considered, including the no-build alternative, FRA officials said in a press release.

Public comments on the project must be submitted by Dec. 19. In addition, the document will be reviewed at public hearings next month in Michigan (Oct. 28), Illinois (Oct. 29) and Indiana (Oct. 30).

The purpose of the program is to improve intercity mobility by providing an improved passenger-rail service that would be a competitive transportation alternative to automobile, bus and air service between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac, Mich.