Jackson Township to Investigate Decade-Old High-Speed Rail Plan Through Elwood

Article Summary: Jackson Township officials are seeking information on a high-speed rail plan dating back to 2012 that would route a passenger line through the Elwood area. Supervisor Matt Robbins will contact the railroad for details after the Elwood Village administrator indicated the long-dormant project could impact local property.

High-Speed Rail Inquiry Key Points:

• A plan for a high-speed rail line passing through Elwood has existed since at least 2012.

• The Elwood Village administrator recently informed the township supervisor that the rail line is planned to go “right through this property.”

• Supervisor Matt Robbins reported that he has been in contact with the railroad but has not received any information about the project.

• The township will now proactively reach out for details on the plan’s current status.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP, IL – An inquiry into a decade-old plan to bring high-speed rail through Elwood is being revived by Jackson Township officials, who will press the railroad for information. The topic was discussed at the township board meeting on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

During his Capital Plan report, Supervisor Matt Robbins mentioned a plan originating around 2012 for a high-speed passenger rail line in the area. According to Robbins, the Elwood Village administrator recently stated the line “is going to go right through this property,” though the specific property was not identified in the meeting.

Robbins told the board he has been in contact with the railroad about the matter but has not received any information regarding the project. Township Attorney John Gallo suggested that officials should “reach out and see,” prompting Robbins to agree he would look into it further.

The discussion brings renewed attention to a project that has apparently been dormant for years. The township’s renewed inquiry aims to clarify the current status of the plan and understand what, if any, impact it could have on local residents and property owners.

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