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The Rock River Times • Aug. 27-Sept. 2, 2014
Metra in Rockford ‘Not ready for prime time’
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agreement is a big issue,” he said. “The Union Pacific guys are really tough negotiators.” Schlickman said a single track would mean limited service to and from Chicago. Likely, there would be an inbound train in the morning and a train back in the evening. “A double track would be more cost — hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “It would be an ongoing cost.” There is another possible approach. “Amtrak could be considered community rail,” he said. “If you did it right, you might generate half the open costs.” He noted Rockford is becoming a more commercial corridor, and long-range planning is focused on the I-90 corridor. “The Harvard line does not serve the I-90 corridor,” he said. “The concern is for higher capacity. Transportation from Chicago to Elgin already exists. I could see it making sense. “We need concern [from residents],” he added. “We’re not ready to do it now.” Near-term prospects for Metra in Rockford seem very remote. “Try to get state money,” Schlickman advised. “I wouldn’t say it is far-fetched, but it is not ready for prime time.”
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Senior Editor Emeritus Recently, when it became apparent that Amtrak was coming to Rockford, it was suggested that we should also get Metra service. That is easier said than done. What are the prospects for such a venture? “Metra only serves six counties in the Chicago and Cook County area, except for a new line into Indiana, the South Shore, and a little bit into Wisconsin,” said Steve Schlickman, executive director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Something that poses a significant hurdle to bringing Metra here was pointed out by Schlickman. “All counties [on the route] have to pay for it,” he said. “[Metra] is running a deficit. It would mean a significant cost to Winnebago and Boone counties. They could do the same as Amtrak. The state pays some of the cost. You would need a groundswell of support.” Schlickman added: “The first thing is there would be more stops. Each place would need a station. The local government pays for it.” He believes the existing track from Chicago is owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. “A trackage
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7/10/14 2:31 PM
Application for liquor license for Ceasar’s Place Coffee and Slots at 2320 Charles St. falls two votes shy By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer A pair of business owners couldn’t gather the support they needed at Rockford City Hall Monday, Aug. 25, to serve beer and wine and offer video gaming at their planned coffee shop. Brothers Benny and Phil Salamone fell two votes shy of a liquor license, which would have allowed them to turn their vacant building, at 2320 Charles St., into a video gaming parlor called Ceasar’s Place Coffee and Slots. The brothers planned to spend $250,000 to remodel the old service station for gaming. Aldermen aren’t ready to add to the 80 gaming locations already in the city — at least not before they meet to discuss the influx of applications.
Leaders say they need a better plan to control signage and neighborhood concentration of slot parlors. “We really need to get in front on this issue now and hold off on anything until we can meet,” Fourth Ward Ald. Kevin Frost (R) said, before voting “no” on what the council says will be the last liquor license application it considers before the September meeting. The city still wants to purchase three buildings owned by S&L Warshawsky for parking across from the future Ziock Building hotel. According to county tax records, the Warshsawsky buildings at 431 S. Main St., 501 S. Main St., and 319 Cedar St., are assessed at around $340,000. The city has made an offer to purchase the structures, and has agreed to pay to relocate the 70-year-old muffler and brake business to another building. Those talks have stalled, although details have not been released. Last week, aldermen voted 13-0 to use power of eminent domain if negotiations fail.