Springfield Rail Improvements Project

Welcome to the Springfield Rail Improvements Project website!  The City of Springfield is leading this rail consolidation effort in cooperation with Sangamon County and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).  This project will relocate all passenger and freight traffic from the Third Street corridor to Tenth Street; construct roadway underpasses at critical rail crossings on both the Tenth and Nineteenth Street corridors; and eliminate train horns in the City between Stanford Avenue and Sangamon Avenue.

This project is being conducted in segments with a focus on planning and design, land acquisition, and eventually construction.  While IDOT has provided funding for planning and design, land acquisition and construction will take place as funding becomes available.

Everything you need to know about this project – its goals and ways to get involved and give your input – can be found on this website.  Visit often for the latest updates and/or sign up to receive periodic email notifications.

By establishing the Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument, President Biden is recognizing the significance of these events and the broader history of Black community resilience in the face of violent oppression. At a time when some are working to rewrite history and erase painful moments in our past, President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to protecting places that help tell a more complete story of our nation’s history, including by recognizing difficult moments that have been ignored or obscured for far too long.

The Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument will also showcase the power of individual Americans who came together across racial lines and took action in the face of injustice. Following the riot, national leaders gathered to work together for civil rights, which led to the creation of the NAACP and helped turn the Springfield 1908 Race Riot’s legacy from one of tragedy alone to an event that led to enduring progress and change for communities nationwide.