CHAMPAIGN – A delegation from Champaign County plans to travel to Washington next month to advocate for high-speed rail, a rails-to-trails project and energy-efficiency grants for schools.

About 15 people have signed up for the March 8-11 trip to the nation's capital to meet with congressional leaders and officials of the Obama administration. It's the third such trip by the advocacy group Champaign County First.

"It's a good mix of business leaders, community leaders and elected officials," said Andrew Proctor, public policy manager for the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.

Among those going: Habeeb Habeeb, the chair of Champaign County First; Laura Weis, president of the chamber; and John Dimit, president of the Champaign County Economic Development Corp.

At least three priorities have been identified so far:

– Continued support for the Kickapoo Trail, a proposed multiuse recreational path that would extend from Urbana to Kickapoo State Park west of Danville. The 24.5-mile route would be developed along former CSX railroad tracks. The Champaign County Forest Preserve District received nearly $900,000 in grant money for the project last fall. Now Champaign County First is requesting $590,000 for land acquisition.

– Money for further study of a proposed high-speed rail route between Chicago and St. Louis that would pass through Champaign. In contrast to a route through Bloomington that might accommodate 110-mph trains, the Champaign route would accommodate trains traveling as fast as 220 mph. Proctor said the group would seek $10 million to $15 million for a feasibility study.

– Continued support for energy-efficiency projects for school districts. In 2009, the federal government approved $500 million in bonding authority that was released to states. Now Champaign County First would like Illinois to release that money to school districts. School districts could use energy savings from the projects to pay back the bonds, Proctor said.

Champaign County First is also planning two daylong trips to Springfield on March 2 and March 29 to meet with Illinois legislators and other state officials, Proctor said.

Twenty to 25 people are expected to join the March 2 bus trip to Springfield, and there's still time for others to sign up for that, he said. The cost is $35 per person. Anyone interested in going can contact Proctor at the chamber, 359-1791.

In Springfield, Champaign County First will push the same three initiatives it's pressing in Washington. But it will also seek the release of $13 million for a student services center at Parkland College.

The state's capital bill allocated $15 million for the project, but so far the college has received about $2 million, Proctor said.

The group will also campaign for several area road projects during the Springfield trip. Those include:

– The rebuilding and widening of Prospect Avenue between Windsor Road and Curtis Road.

– The widening of a mile-long stretch of U.S. 150 between Barker Road and Prairieview Road to accommodate industrial development on Mahomet's east side.

– Engineering for the upgrading of St. Mary's Road between Fourth Street in Champaign and Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. About $500,000 is sought for that project, which would include road widening and a bike path.

Proctor said the group also wants to reassure the state that local governments intend to use money allocated for the extension of Olympian Drive. Support has been voiced for extending Olympian east to Lincoln Avenue in Urbana, and rebuilding Lincoln north to Olympian.