Illinois Fast Track Endorsements
Growing Support for a Statewide Railway Program
Ask Your Mayor to Endorse a Statewide Railway Program
Your state lawmakers will probably pay close attention if they hear from a mayor in their district. That’s because a mayor represents many voters.
You can help, by asking your mayor to endorse the idea of a statewide railway program.
To do this:
- Download this sample letter.
- Look up your mayor’s contact information. You can typically find this on your city’s official website, often under the “Mayor’s Office” or “Government” sections.
- Email the letter to your mayor, here is a sample email.
(This isn’t limited to mayors. Other organizations are encouraged to endorse as well.)
About the 2019 Endorsements
During an earlier effort, local governments, educational institutions, and organizations throughout Illinois endorsed a statewide railway program. They are included in the lists below.
If you represent one of these entities and would like to update your organization’s letter or add your organization to the list, please call us at 773-334-6758 or send us a message.
Jump to the Endorsements
Endorsements
Local Governments and Agencies (2019)
Blue Island, IL – Mayor Domingo F. Vargas
Carlinville, IL – Mayor Deanna Demuzio
Champaign, IL – Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen
Champaign County, IL – County Executive Darlene Kloeppel
Champaign County Forest Preserves – Mary Ellen Wuellner, Executive Director
Champaign County Regional Planning Commission – Dalitso S. Sulamoyo, Ph.D., CEO
Champaign Park District – Joe DeLuce, Executive Director
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District – Karl P. Gnadt, Managing Director & CEO
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning – Joseph C. Szabo, Executive Director
East Moline, IL – Mayor Reggie Freeman
East St. Louis, IL – Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks
Elmwood Park, IL – Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano
Freeport, IL – Mayor Jodi Miller
Galena, IL – Mayor Terry Renner
Gilman, IL – Mayor Rick Theesfeld
Rantoul, IL – Mayor Charles Smith
Robbins, IL – Mayor Tyrone Ward
Rock Island, IL – Mayor Mike Thoms & Rock Island City Council
Royal, IL – Village Board of Trustees
Savoy, IL – Village President Joan Dykstra
Urbana, IL – Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin
Urbana Park District – Timothy A. Bartlett, Executive Director
Associations and Non-Profits (2019)
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce – Laura Weis, President & CEO
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation – Carly McCrory, Executive Director
Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation – Reggie Greenwood, Executive Director
Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric – Linda Thisted & Andrea Reed, Co-Chairs
Dwight Economic Alliance – Debra Karch, Economic Development Director
Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce – Paul Rumler, President & CEO
Rantoul Area Chamber of Commerce – Belynda Allen, Executive Director
SMART Transportation Division – Robert W. Guy, State Director

Get Involved
The Illinois General Assembly is debating the future transit and regional rail right now. The package should include a State Railway Program to invest in bridges, trainsets, and better track.