On September 4, CEO Dave Lundy and engineer Mark Walbrun presented the project to the High Speed Rail Alliance. Among the disclosures: trains would run 110 mph on the CSX segment in the Eisenhower trench; there are nine grade crossings between Madison Street and O’Hare, four of which may remain at grade with quad gates when service starts; the sponsor has formed a Class III railroad subsidiary called Great Western Railroad; investors are not public; and the ridership study will not be released.
Asked about community concerns, Mr. Lundy said residents had “heard misinformation” and that “the only thing that is not changing is the route. The route is the route.” Our point-by-point rebuttal is posted with the research documents.