Dear Supporter, Please find a message from State Representative Robert Pritchard below. Construction cost and shortage of state funds are considered to be the biggest hurdles. ------------ "Thank you for your email and sharing your support for train service to DeKalb. You raise excellent points and I think most everyone would agree that commuter rail service to DeKalb would be economically beneficial to our area. This is an issue that has been discussed for decades but no one can find a solution to the cost. The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) would require that DeKalb County join the RTA and impose a gas tax to pay for membership. The DeKalb County Board would have to vote to hold a referendum for approval to become part of and to contribute sales tax to the RTA. My impression is that the County Board is nowhere near ready to put a referendum on the ballot. Additionally what's the likelihood of passage? Membership does not guarantee the RTA will extend services, McHenry County towns have been waiting for service for well over a decade. Currently, the RTA does not support expanding Metra rail to DeKalb and I don't see a way forward without their support. RTA is focused on upgrading their current lines. Service to DeKalb alone would initially cost approximately $400 million in infrastructure investment to add a separate rail from Elburn. To top it off, Illinois is in the middle of an ongoing financial crisis. We haven't had a budget in 18 months. The state is currently hundreds of millions behind in state aid payments to the RTA. We are in desperate need of a capital bill just to maintain are current infrastructure. All this desire for revenue would make passage of a DeKalb County referendum next to impossible. I strongly support focusing on viable alternatives such as expanded bus service between DeKalb and Elburn. DSATS is doing good work and I will be anxious to see their final recommendations". Thanks, Robert W. Pritchard State Representative 2600 DeKalb Ave, Suite C Sycamore, IL 60178 815.748.3494-Main Office 815.748.4630-Fax