HR1232 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1232 LRB095 20708 KXB 49513 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On May 10, 1869, the "golden spike" was driven into the final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah to join the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads, ceremonially completing the first transcontinental railroad and therefore connecting both coasts of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Today, Illinois and Chicago are the railroad capitals of the United States and Chicago Union Station is the fourth busiest Amtrak station in the country, with almost 3 million passengers annually; and

WHEREAS, Illinois was one of the first States to enter into a partnership with Amtrak for the operation of a passenger train, the daily Illinois Zephyr, which has served the communities of Quincy, Macomb, Galesburg, Kewanee, Princeton, Mendota, Plano, LaGrange, and Chicago, since November 4, 1971; and

WHEREAS, Illinois has continued to show its commitment to a viable passenger rail network, providing support so residents and visitors have Amtrak trains to and from metro areas, mid-sized cities, and small towns, helping to reduce congestion on roads and in the skies; and

WHEREAS, For many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the country; and

WHEREAS, Passenger rail provides a more fuel-efficient transportation system, thereby providing cleaner transportation alternatives and energy security; when combined with all modes of transportation, passenger railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the travel industry's total greenhouse gases; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak annually provides intercity passenger rail travel to over 25 million Americans residing in 46 states; and

WHEREAS, An increasing number of people are using trains for travel purposes beyond commuting to and from work; in the State of Illinois, 3,888,577 people made use of Amtrak trains in 2007; and

WHEREAS, Rail passenger service in the State of Illinois is a source of pride, a gateway for many into our State, and a tool for economic growth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State of Illinois endorses National Train Day on May 10, 2008.