Proposed Rockford route lined with red flags

The recent article about Metra approving a proposal to provide service to Rockford raises so many red flags.

First question: Why? There's no need for it, and unless it's faster and cheaper than driving, no one will use it. Has anyone asked for this with any form of basis or data on a real need?

Second question, Metra says it's not funding this, but I hope "not funding" includes all the maintenance, labor and other costs of running the trains, including some allowance for capital replacement. Rockford is not part of Metra's taxing area, so why are Chicago and collar counties funding a benefit to Rockford?

Last but not least, the rail line IDOT intends to use is a freight-only, slow track. If experience is a guide, a similar project to upgrade a freight line to St. Louis cost billions to do, but ridership is well below expectations, and it is a giant money loser. I fear this pie-in-the-sky proposal will be a repeat of that fiasco.

John Becker

Downers Grove