Skip to Content

Illinois Board, Commission, Task Force and Council List

Boards and Commissions Detail | Skip to Member Names | View all Boards and Commissions

Title:High Speed Railway Commission
Meeting Information:
A quorum consists of a simple majority of total membership and shall be sufficient to conduct the business of the Commission, unless stipulated otherwise in the bylaws of the Commission. The Commission shall meet at least quarterly.


Function:The High-Speed Railway Commission shall create a statewide plan for a high-speed rail line and feeder network connecting St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois that includes current existing Amtrak and Metra services, connects the cities of Rockford, Moline, Peoria, and Decatur, and uses inter-city bus service to coordinate with the rail line. The Commission shall conduct a ridership study and shall make findings and recommendations concerning a governance structure, the frequency of service, and implementation of the plan. The Commission shall report to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than December 31 of each year.
Senate Confirmation:No
Composition:The Commission shall be composed of the following members: (1) The Governor or his or her designee. (2) The President of the Senate or his or her designee. (3) The Minority Leader of the Senate or his or her designee. (4) The Speaker of the House or his or her designee. (5) The Minority Leader of the House or his or her designee. (6) The Secretary of Transportation or his or her designee. (7) The Chairperson of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority or his or her designee. (8) The Chairperson of the Illinois Commerce Commission or his or her designee. (9) The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Metra or his or her designee. (10) The Mayor of the City of Chicago or his or her designee. (11) A representative of a labor organization representing rail workers. (12) A representative of a trade organization related to the rail industry. (13) A representative of the Metropolitan Mayors and Managers Association. (14) A representative from the Illinois Railroad Association. (15) A representative from the University of Illinois System. (16) A representative from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. (17) A representative of the Illinois Municipal League. (18) A representative of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District. (19) A representative of the Region 1 Planning Council. (20) A representative of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission. (21) A representative of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Shanahan, Brian8/25/2021Minority Leader of the House of RepresentativesDesigneeMember
VACANTGovernor; his or her designeeMember
VACANTPresident of the Senate; his or her designeeMember
VACANTMinority Leader of the Senate; his or her designeeMember
VACANTSpeaker of the House of Representatives; his or her designeeMember
VACANTSecretary of Transportation; his or her designeeMember
VACANTChair of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; his or her designeeMember
VACANTChair of the Illinois Commerce Commission; his or her designeeMember
VACANTChair of the Board of Directors of METRA; his or her designeeMember
VACANTMayor of the the City of Chicago; his or her designeeMember
VACANTLabor organization representing rail workersRepresentativeMember
VACANTTrade organization related to the rail industryRepresentative Member
VACANTMetropolitan Mayors and Managers AssociationRepresentativeMember
VACANTIllinois Railroad AssociationRepresentativeMember
VACANTUniversity of Illinois SystemRepresentativeMember
VACANTChicago Metropolitan Agency for PlanningRepresentativeMember
VACANTIllinois Municipal LeagueRepresentativeMember
VACANTChampaign-Urbana Mass Transit DistrictRepresentativeMember
VACANTRegion 1 Planning CouncilRepresentativeMember
VACANTMcLean County Regional Planning CommissionRepresentativeMember
VACANTEast-West Gateway Council of GovernmentsRepresentativeMember