The displays presented at the February 26th & 27th Public Open Houses are NOW available for viewing in the document library.

YOU’RE INVITED!  The City of Vincennes and the Federal and State Agencies conducting the railroad study are hosting two public open houses.  Interested participants are encouraged to come and see the recommended corridors.  Come and get the facts.  Feel free to ask questions.  But above all else, give your input.

The corridors presented at these public open houses may be eliminated from consideration, or they may be studied further as the study moves closer to identifying a preferred alternative.

Your first public open house opportunity will be between 4pm and 8pm on Tuesday, February 26 at the Green Activity Center located at 120 W. Harrison Street on the Vincennes University Campus.  FREE! Parking is available off of Harrison Street which is adjacent to the Green Activity Center, or the Chestnut Street Lot across from the Green Activity Center next to the water tower.

Your second public open house opportunity will be between 4pm and 8pm on Wednesday, February 27 at the Central Christian Church Community Center located at 303 Buchanan Drive in Lawrenceville, Illinois.  There is plenty of FREE! parking in the church parking lot.

To make each of these public open houses as convenient as possible and to encourage participation, you can attend one or both public open houses.  Feel free to come and go as you please, anytime between 4pm and 8pm.  This is an informal presentation of the recommended study corridors.

See you there!

February 2008 Public Open House Postcard Invitation

Miss the Public Open House on September 18, or just want another look at the information presented? The informational display boards are now available for viewing in the Document Library. 

This page contains responses to your most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the railroad relocation project. This list was assembled in response to the questions received from the project website and at the May 3, 2007 public meeting held at South Knox Middle/High School.

The questions and responses cover both broad issues and very specific technical questions. This page will be updated and revised periodically as the planning process continues and new information becomes available. If you have a question about a topic that is not covered here, we want to hear from you. Please use the contact form on this site.

Go to the FAQ page now.

The Federal Highway Administration, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have organized a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Rail Relocation Study for Knox County, Indiana and Lawrence County, Illinois. 

The role of the CAC is to provide a forum for volunteer community representatives to learn about the project, share their views with FHWA, INDOT and the Project Team, and discuss project issues with one another in a small group setting.  CAC members serve as resources to the general public, providing project information and clarification on issues of interest.

There is no decision making or voting at these CAC meetings. Rather, the CAC acts as a sounding board for the lead agencies and the Project Team to review and discuss project elements. Although FHWA and INDOT will maintain ultimate authority over decisions regarding the proposed rail relocation study, the CAC will provide important input to the lead agencies and to the Project Team.

The ideas and information provided by the CAC members and the public will be used directly in the development of the reports created during this study.  The views expressed by CAC members will be considered along with all other public and agency comments.  Final decisions on project issues will be made by the agency officials with responsibility for those issues.

Meeting summaries and other information presented at the CAC meetings will be made available to the public on the project website.  Copies will also be available and can be requested by contacting the Project Team. 

How were the current Vincennes CAC members selected?

The Agency Project Management Team, consisting of representatives from the Indiana and Illinois FWHA, INDOT and IDOT, contacted local community and government leaders to help identify CAC members.  The Agency Project Management Team selected CAC members with the primary goal of bringing together a representative cross-section of the affected community. 
As this study continues, organizations that may not be represented in this first CAC list can submit their request to FHWA by letter or through the project website to serve on this advisory committee. 

To view the current CAC list, please click here:

Community Advisory Committee

The Vincennes Project Management Team (PMT) has been assembled for this project.  The purpose of the PMT is to provide guidance to the project consultant HNTB at each step of the project following “Indiana’s Streamlined Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Procedures” for major transportation projects in Indiana.  These procedures are intended primarily to address projects for which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is required to prepare an EIS under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 

The creation of the PMT is intended to facilitate better coordination among the agencies with primary responsibility for the planning process and the Lead agencies with primary responsibility for the NEPA process (namely, FHWA and the Indiana Department of Transportation).

Project Management Team

Community and Economic Development Land Use Plan

A comprehensive community and economic development land use plan will be developed to identify the opportunities to leverage strategic economic benefits for the City and County in conjunction with the railroad relocation. 

One purpose of the community development activities will be to assure the maximum benefit to Vincennes and Knox County from the physical changes that will be accomplished by this project which will create an unprecedented opportunity for revitalization in the city and county.  The impact of providing grade separations, eliminating grade crossings and removing tracks will be significant, but benefits to Vincennes and Knox County will be even greater if community development elements are incorporated in project plans from the beginning.

This is an outstanding time to define the region’s vision and to translate it into action steps and supportive policies.  By setting the regional context in the beginning, the study area will improve the efficiency and productivity of the entire process. 

This plan incorporates past and current trends in Vincennes and Knox County to help guide the area’s future.  Public input and participation will be heavily incorporated into the process.  A steering committee has been appointed to oversee the development of this plan. The committee is made up of public and private sector leaders, various local organizations, interest groups, and citizens. 

Railroad Corridor and Grade Separation Studies

Although the overall impact and benefits of this project will extend well beyond the railroad engineering elements, an effective, functional plan for the modified rail system is an essential central element of the project.

The railroad corridor and grade separation studies will seek to relocate the current CSX rail line from downtown Vincennes and evaluate 26 roadway grade separation (over and underpass) alternatives.  The study will evaluate three north-south and two east-west railroad alternatives.  At issue is the relocation of two CSXT Railroad mainline tracks, the north-south mainline and the east-west mainline.  For each of the 26 locations that will be studied for grade separation alternatives, two alternative vertical alignments for each location will be developed.  Traffic studies will also be conducted for roadways and intersections adjacent to the grade separation. 

The north-south mainline is CSXT’s main route from Chicago to points south and southeast, and the east-west mainline extends from Cincinnati to St. Louis.  The two mainlines cross just north of downtown.  The majority of the train traffic travels on the north-south CSXT mainline and consists of approximately 50 trains per day.  The east-west mainline has approximately 15 trains per day. 

The relocation of the north-south mainline will require the construction of a new corridor approximately 10 to 13 miles in length depending on the alignment alternative.  The east-west corridor may be approximately 8 miles in length. 

HNTB Corporation will coordinate with CSX Railroad on their operational needs in addition to analyzing the environmental and fiscal impacts of each railroad and grade separation alternative.  Preliminary construction costs will also be completed for three railroad alternatives and the 26 grade separation alternatives. 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

For the Vincennes Rail Relocation Project, it has been determined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be necessary documentation for this project, and that FHWA will be the lead authority agency. 

An EIS is a document prepared to describe the effects for proposed activities on the environment. “Environment,” in this case, is defined as the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with that environment. This means that the “environment” considered in an EIS includes land, water, air, structures, farmland, environmental and the social, cultural, and economic aspects. An “impact” is a change in consequence that results from an activity. Impacts can be positive or negative or both.  For this project, FHWA is proposing an EIS to evaluate the following:

1. The significant environmental impacts and benefits of the rail relocation project;
2. Reasonable alternatives to the proposed project, including the “no build” alternative, and their significant impacts or benefits;
3. Potential mitigation measures that could address environmental impacts.

During the EIS, input and suggestions from various organizations and stakeholders will be utilized, including the FHWA, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), various Federal, State, tribal, and local government agencies that may have an interest in the project, and the public.  In addition to input from the Vincennes CAC, various public meetings will be held to allow citizens to work with the consultant team in developing the Draft and Final EIS, including two public informational meetings and one public hearing. 

A quick reference for different aspects of the Vincennes Railroad Relocation Study.

Vincennes Railroad Relocation Fact Sheet

The City of Vincennes and Knox County have a long history as leaders in development in Indiana.  They led the way in many different areas, including Indiana’s first Catholic church, first county, first newspaper, first Presbyterian church, first Masonic Lodge, first bank and first medical society. Vincennes University, founded in 1801 as Jefferson Academy, is also one of the oldest universities in the United States. 

As Vincennes developed, it embraced the changes required to ensure a vibrant City and optimistic future for its citizens.

Today, Vincennes is presented with a unique and valuable community development opportunity; the ability to utilize a railroad relocation project to improve the community and envision the Region’s future. 

The Railroad Relocation Study currently underway will ensure that economic development, community enhancement and functional transportation issues are all addressed concurrently with the central activity of relocating existing rail lines.

By looking at the larger picture, local officials and citizens will be able to work together to understand their needs and create solutions that would not be offered under traditional stand-alone planning or engineering studies.  The City selected HNTB Indiana as the Project Team to facilitate the study which includes three major components:

• Railroad Corridor and Grade Separation Study;
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS);
• Community and Economic Development Land Use Plan.

Vincennes’ pioneering spirit continues today. By embracing the changes to ensure a thriving future, this City of Firsts is On Track for the Future. 

WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW AND HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

The project is just getting underway and the City and County recognizes the value of public outreach to the decision making process for this project.  With guidance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) will be created to provide valuable community input during the study. 

The CAC will be a group of stakeholder representatives within the City and County and will serve as an important advisory role to the Project Team.  In addition, the CAC will provide a forum for community representatives to learn about the project, share their views with the Project Team, and discuss project issues with one another in a small group setting. 

No decisions have been made on the new location of the railroad; the Region needs the input of its residents to make this project successful.  Multiple public meetings and workshops will be held to involve residents, report progress, gather input, and create a plan that reflects the interests and needs of Vincennes and Knox County

The following timeline shows the major milestones of the studies in addition to public meetings and workshops. 

The project website (http://railroad.vincennes.org/) includes up-to-date information regarding the project, including contact information, project schedules, public meeting and event times and locations, recent project updates, press releases, and other important information.  Comments and suggestions can also be submitted via the website. 

The report from the City Council briefing meeting in December is available in PDF format.

The report from the City Council briefing meeting in November is available in PDF format.

http://www.in.gov/indot/
Indiana Department of Transportation

http://www.dot.state.il.us/
Illinois Department of Transportation

http://www.state.in.us/idem/
Indiana Department of Environmental Management

http://www.epa.state.il.us/
Illinois EPA

http://129.79.145.7/arcims/statewide_mxd/index.html
Indiana GIS Atlas

The report from the City Council briefing meeting in October is available in PDF format.

In 1991, a feasibility study was conducted for constructing a grade separation structure on 6th Street at the CSX Rail Transportation (CSXT) crossing between College Avenue and St. Clair Street. Recognizing the increased railway traffic and the time delays for vehicular traffic through this portion of 6th Street, the City requested a feasibility study to investigate the site and develop alternatives to alleviate the traffic delays occurring within the City at that location at that time.

This is the monthly progress report for September 2007.

Miss the Public Open House on September 18, or just want another look at the information presented? The informational display boards are now available for viewing.

Click on the links below to open PDF files of the display boards used at the September 18, Open House at the Green Activity Center.

Purpose & Need

Purpose & Need

Natural & Social Environment

Natural EnvironmentCommunity Facilities

Trains & Roadways

Traffic DataSafety Data

Study Process

Public InvolvementProcess to AlternativesNEPA Process

Economic & Land Use Plan

Existing Land UseLand Use Study

The progress report for the month of August is available in PDF format.

The progress report for the month of July is available in PDF format.

The progress report for the month of June is available in PDF format.

The progress report for the month of May is available in PDF format.

The progress report for the month of April is available in PDF format.

This document contains the background information for the Vincennes Railroad Relocation.