Monday, July 23, 2012
Metra leaders will hold an open house tomorrow in Geneva, and they're interested to hear your thoughts on a proposed train stop in Oswego.
A quick reminder for you: if you want to support a Metra stop in Oswego, you’ll have a good chance tomorrow. Metra is about to embark on its first strategic plan in decades, and they’re looking for your input. The goal of the strategic plan, according to a Metra press release, is to prioritize the agency’s spending decisions, and “use its scarce dollars in the most efficient and effective way possible.” To that end, they’re looking for opinions on Metra’s mission, vision and goals. They’re holding public open houses throughout their service area for the next few weeks, and the closest one to Oswego is tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Geneva City Hall, 22 South First Street. It won’t be an official public hearing, but Metra leaders will be on hand …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The rail service has begun forming a new strategic plan, and they've set public forums and launched a survey. If you want to go on record to support a Metra station in Oswego, this is your chance.
If you’re hoping for a Metra stop in Oswego, you’re about to have the perfect opportunity to let the rail service’s leaders know. Metra is about to embark on its first strategic plan in decades, and they’re looking for your input. The goal of the strategic plan, according to a Metra press release, is to prioritize the agency’s spending decisions, and “use its scarce dollars in the most efficient and effective way possible.” To that end, they’re looking for opinions on Metra’s mission, vision and goals. They’re doing this in two ways – they’ve uploaded an eight-question survey to their website, www.metrarail.com, and they’re holding public open houses throughout their service area over the next few weeks. The closest such open house to the …
Friday, June 29, 2012
The Republican Congressman held a town hall forum Monday at Oswego Village Hall.
In preparation for Rep. Randy Hultgren's town hall in his home village on Monday, Oswego's David Edelman reduced the country’s health care problems to newspaper clippings adhered to cardboard. They were articles from local publications about upcoming fundraisers for people with serious medical problems. Some patients were children with a parent with a job and health insurance. Others’ circumstances were less clear. But, by Edelman’s estimation, there’s something wrong when everyday residents are burdened with such concerns, and their elected leaders have excellent coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield. Senator Mark Kirk, who suffered a stroke in January, according to the Chicago Tribune, probably didn’t have to worry about having a …
Monday, February 20, 2012
Metra will also look into the possibility of a stop in Montgomery.
The Metra board has approved the bids for the Phase I engineering study for a possible commuter rail stop in Oswego. According to an email sent by Interim Village Administrator Dwight Baird to Oswego trustees, the environmental portion of the study has been awarded in the amount of $350,000 to HDR, a global architecture, engineering and consulting firm with offices in Chicago. The engineering portion of the study was awarded to Chicago engineering firm Bowman and Barrett and Associates in the amount of $1.4 million. The first part of the study is set to start soon, Baird said. “It’s coming along, and I’m glad it’s finally moving forward,” Village President Brian LeClercq said. An Oswego commuter station has been a topic of discussion for …
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Leaders from Oswego, Montgomery and Aurora met with Metra CEO Alex Clifford Tuesday.
Leaders from Oswego, Montgomery and Aurora met with Metra boss Alex Clifford for about 45 minutes Tuesday morning to discuss the timeline of a possible train station at Orchard and Mill roads. Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq said the meeting was productive in that Metra revealed the Phase I engineering study likely will be put out for bid by May. That study has an estimated price tag of $6 million. Money has yet to be released by the Metra board, but that could happen in February or March. The preliminary work will focus on environmental and operational issues, LeClercq said. “The fact of the matter is that Metra is strapped for cash, and I think the commitment to do the study shows some progress,” LeClercq said. “But these things …
Friday, January 6, 2012
The mayors of Oswego, Montgomery and Aurora will meet with Metra Executive Director Alex Clifford on Jan. 24 to discuss the long-gestating project.
Is Metra on track to build a commuter station in Oswego? That’s what three suburban mayors hope to find out on Jan. 24, when they head to Chicago to meet with Metra’s executive director, Alex Clifford. According to Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq, the goal of the meeting—which also includes Montgomery Village President Marilyn Michelini and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner, along with state legislators—is to get everyone on the same page. An Oswego commuter station has been a topic of discussion for years, and LeClercq has been a staunch supporter of the idea. Though it could take between 10 and 15 years to complete, and cost more than $120 million, Oswego already has a popular park-and-ride facility near Orchard and Mill roads, …
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Amtrak could be stopping trains in Oswego by 2014.
A Metra stop in Oswego could be 10 to 15 years away; an Amtrak stop, on the other hand, could be here in just three years. That was the message sent by Congressman Randy Hultgren, R-14th District, and Oswego Village President Brian LeClercq on Tuesday night at a gathering of officials from across Kendall County at Allied First Bank on Orchard Road. The timeline isn’t the only shrinking number connected to the project. The price tag for securing an Amtrak stop near Orchard and Mill roads would be $6 million to $10 million. The price tag for a Metra stop would be $120 million more than that. “Ideally, we would love to have a Metra station (in Kendall County),” Hultgren said. “We also know that’s a challenge, and so we’re open to other …
Sunday, September 25, 2011
...will take more from your hide, as Metra proposes a 28% fare hike for next year.
Cartoon by Charley Krebs.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Check out the top stories in your area.
Check out the top stories in your area: District 203 Responds to Counselor Being Charged; Tax Abatement Approved Fitness Hearing Set For Triple Murder Suspect New VVSD Chief: Current School System Needs an Overhaul Hultgren Committee Appointments Could Mean Progress on Metra Stop Lemont Grapples with Faltering Economy
Rachael B.
12:04 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Your reported an incorrect meeting time. The open house ran from 4:00 to 7:00, so when I arrived at 7:00, I had missed it. more ›