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Rail line proposal linked to casino
By Rebekah Danaher
Daily News Staff Writer
Beloit and tribal officials say they are intrigued by a proposal from Rockford developer Kurt Carlson to connect commuter rail lines from the Chicago area to Beloit.
Carlson, the developer for the casino proposed by the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa and the St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin, met Monday with Beloit Economic Development Director Andrew Janke and tribal spokesman Joe Hunt to pitch his idea for the rail link.
Janke said the meeting was brief and Carlson offered a concept but no concrete plans for the project.
Beloit has long been interested in extending the Metra rail from Harvard to Clinton and Janke said Carlson's proposal, if realized, would be great for the city.
Rockford area officials have also been eyeing plans for a Metra extension from Elgin to Huntley, Marengo and Belvidere to Rockford.
Hunt, who was asked to sit in the meeting by Carlson, said he is certainly interested in the plans, though preliminary.
"From a marketing point of view it would be intriguing, but it's really not our focus right now," he said. "We're trying to get our trust land application approved."
Hunt said he will soon receive copies of the statements made during the 45-day public comment period. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been reviewing the public responses to the Environmental Impact Study and is expected to make a decision in the coming months.
Carlson, the developer for the casino proposed by the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa and the St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin, met Monday with Beloit Economic Development Director Andrew Janke and tribal spokesman Joe Hunt to pitch his idea for the rail link.
Janke said the meeting was brief and Carlson offered a concept but no concrete plans for the project.
Beloit has long been interested in extending the Metra rail from Harvard to Clinton and Janke said Carlson's proposal, if realized, would be great for the city.
Rockford area officials have also been eyeing plans for a Metra extension from Elgin to Huntley, Marengo and Belvidere to Rockford.
Hunt, who was asked to sit in the meeting by Carlson, said he is certainly interested in the plans, though preliminary.
"From a marketing point of view it would be intriguing, but it's really not our focus right now," he said. "We're trying to get our trust land application approved."
Hunt said he will soon receive copies of the statements made during the 45-day public comment period. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has been reviewing the public responses to the Environmental Impact Study and is expected to make a decision in the coming months.
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