(The following story by John R. Pulliam appeared on the Register-Mail website on October 17, 2009.)
GALESBURG, Ill. — It’s not often that a member of the president’s Cabinet visits Galesburg, but when U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood arrives here Tuesday for a luncheon and a number of other events, he’ll already know his way around the city.
State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association and the board of the National Railroad Hall of Fame asked him in September if he could arrange for LaHood to come back to Galesburg. As the U.S. congressman for the 18th District, which includes a portion of eastern Knox County, LaHood, who is from Peoria, made a number of trips here.
Moffitt said part of the reason for inviting LaHood to return to Galesburg “is to say thanks. Secretary LaHood, then Congressman LaHood, was one of the first officials we had tour the (BNSF) railyards and talk about the grade separations and the potential those have for Galesburg.”
Federal stimulus money in the amount of about $88.5 million will help build a third main line in the BNSF classification yard, the second largest in the railroad’s system, as well as storage tracks that will allow freight trains to be moved out of the way to help Amtrak passenger trains remain on schedule.
“He’s been supportive,” Moffitt said. “Rep. LaHood stepped up to the plate for us and we’re just maintaining the relationship with him. … He came the first time as congressman and he didn’t even represent Galesburg proper. But he saw the importance of the regional approach.”
Moffitt said times and locations of a number of events or meetings LaHood will be at Tuesday have not been finalized and are not expected to be until Monday. There are a number of other dignitaries who tentatively are expected to join LaHood here, but those names have yet to be released.
In addition to the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, LaHood plans to meet with students.
“The chance for Knox students to meet with a member of the president’s cabinet is unique,” Moffitt said.
“It’s serving multi-purposes,” Moffitt said of LaHood’s visit. “The package of $88.5 million that we’ve gotten for Galesburg and the railyard is probably the largest (federal) package that has ever happened in Galesburg.
“This all fits in with President Obama having been to Galesburg both as a (presidential) candidate) and as a member of the U.S. Senate,” Moffitt said. “In his book, he mentions Galesburg.”
He said that and the federal stimulus package are expected to help Galesburg, as new construction and permanent jobs are created.
Despite LaHood’s earlier ties to Galesburg, Moffitt said of the invitation, “It seemed like the right thing to do.” He added it’s “extremely rare to have a (U.S.) transportation secretary visit.”