Midwest High Speed Rail

2011-11-15T10:06:00.001-06:00

Great interview with Illinois Governor Pat Quinn this morning, talking up high speed rail on Morning Joe.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

People in Wisconsin ride trains

2010-11-25T08:23:00.000-06:00

This is a news story from Wisconsin on the large numbers of people riding Amtrak between Milwaukee and Chicago. Of course, if the Amtrak was extended west from Milwaukee to Madison, large numbers of people would ride that train as well.

Not to mention, the train should be extended north from Milwaukee up to Green Bay (through Door County and Manitowoc). People will ride trains, and it is always cheaper to run a train than it is to maintain a highway. It also uses far less energy per passenger-mile, which is good for our economy.

Remember what the President of the United States said about high speed rail

2010-11-06T15:46:00.000-05:00

It's worth remembering what the President of the United States has to say about high speed rail: It is being done. It's just not being done here. Building a high speed rail system will be faster, cheaper and more efficient than building new highways or new runways.

The inside of an ICE train in London - a stronger European network is growing

2010-10-20T01:18:00.000-05:00

This is a neat BBC video of a look inside a German-made ICE train that will start running direct to London. Rail networks grow stronger in Europe! And that means with every trip their economy grows stronger as they use less foreign oil and more homegrown electricity. Their economy also grows stronger because their people remain productive on the train, instead of in a car when the time is largely wasted while driving. Anyway, check out the inside of this train.

Great high speed rail Wisconsin video on the Madison-Milwaukee expansion

2010-10-14T09:04:00.000-05:00

A fantastic video on Wisconsin's high speed rail project (put together by One Wisconsin).

Check this out and spread the word!

Obama calls for high speed rail as part of $50 billion infrastructure program

2010-10-11T14:09:00.000-05:00

Today President Barack Obama pushed for a $50 billion infrastructure program, paid for primarily by lessening the subsidies for oil and gas development, to strengthen our country's economy. The program includes a major rail component, including rebuilding 4000 miles of rail track.

He specifically calls for high speed rail in his speech.

In his remarks, he notes that as a percentage of GDP, we spend less than Russia, China or Western Europe. We spend 2 percent, Europe spends 5 percent and China spends 9 percent.

In other words, to build the foundation of our economy, we need significantly more government spending on our transportation infrastructure -- or we will continue to pay through wasted time and fuel in inefficient, clogged highways and airports.

Wi-fi at 200 mph in Europe - the future of American travel

2010-09-19T06:11:00.000-05:00

I'm on the Thalys high speed rail from Brussels to Paris, rocketing past cars on the highway at 200 mph, connected to wi-fi. I came to the station without a ticket just before noon and walked into the RailTeam office where all the different private operators share a ticket-selling service to keep costs down. For 95 Euros (about $125), I had a one-way to Paris departing in 15 minutes. I didn't need any identification and I didn't need to take off my clothes in order to get on the train.

This trip is a 3 hour, 15 minute drive without any traffic. It's about 200 miles.

Imagine every set of cities that are about 200 miles apart. Chicago-Springfield comes to mind since I travel it often. Imagine how dificult it is to make a day trip -- and really, how few day trips are actually made, because it takes so long to drive.

This train takes one hour and 22 minutes. And there are up to 27 departures a day.

Imagine that!

I'm also on wi-fi, so I and the many other people on this rather crowded train on a Sunday afternoon are productive. That improves the productivity of the whole region, which is why investing in assets like high speed rail makes countries more valuable.

Just like companies, countries need to get more efficient by reducing their costs. American transportation costs are very high, especially as they are primarily fueled by oil. That commodity's price is going to rise in the future, perhaps dramatically, as demand increases and supply shrinks.

This high speed rail has two major differences from American rail (but it runs on the same steel tracks with the same regular steel wheels). One: it is powered by electricity with overhead wires. Two: there are no places where the road and the rail meet so no cars or people can ever walk across the tracks.

To build up our American network for high speed rail, we need our tracks to become electrified by running overhead wires over the tracks and converting the locomotives from running on oil to running on electricity. We also need to build lots of bridges or tunnels between the road and the rail so that the track becomes completely grade-separated.

And we need to build new passenger-only tracks, owned by the government and leased to a private company, so we can run the trains at 200 mph.

As one Frenchman put it on the TGV, American put a man on the moon, and you don't have high speed rail?

The way we get it is with more government money. Much more. We don't spend enough taxpayer money on our infrastructure in the first place (our gas tax is 19 cents a gallon, while Europe's gas tax is on the average about $5 a gallon), and of the money we do spend, we spend far too much of it on roads and not nearly enough on rail.

We need to start separating our road network from our rail network with the money we spend now and we need to spend much more money on building up a passenger rail network running on electricity -- if we want the economic growth that comes from becoming more efficient and using less foreign oil.

Much of the rest of the wealthy world are building high speed rail to make their countries wealthier and efficient. If they can do it, so can we.

Must read special section on high speed rail from Philadelphia Inquirer

2010-08-08T08:34:00.000-05:00

All this week, the Philadelphia Inquirer is running a special section called Fast Track: Is America Ready for high-speed rail?

There are too many good things to say about this section already, and I can't wait to see what the next three days will bring.

I particularly like the graphic that explains what how much spending $10 billion a year on high speed rail really is compared to other things we buy through the federal government.

Please check out this section and take your time with it. I hope the paper makes lots of money from page views from around the world on this high speed rail section to inspire more reporting from on the topic.

HSR construction: Chicago to St. Louis

2010-07-27T16:43:00.001-05:00

From Gov. Quinn's newsletter:
On July 20, Governor Quinn was joined by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin to announce that construction would begin in early September on the Chicago to St. Louis high-speed rail route. This project will support more than 900 jobs in Illinois and make Illinois the high-speed rail hub of the United States. This $98 million dollar project is federally funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus) and is part of the $8 billion allocated for high-speed rail. When completed, it is estimated that the total amount of time it takes to travel between Chicago and St. Louis will be less than four hours.

Madison Wisconsin Amtrak station Q and A with Governor Doyle and Mayor Cieslewicz

2010-07-07T19:36:00.001-05:00

Very exciting news in Wisconsin to expand Amtrak service between Madison and Wisconsin (as a fundamental piece of the Minneapolis-St. Paul - Madison - Milwaukee - Chicago high speed rail line) as the site for the train station in Madison has been chosen right downtown at the Department of Administration building.

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz took questions from reporters from the rooftop of the building that will host the train station a week ago, and thanks to Learfield News for grabbing this eight minute feed of the discussion between the two high speed rail leaders and the press.

The Madison-Milwaukee line is a very exciting project as it helps bring the entire Midwest high speed rail network into reality. Like any network, the more spokes there are, the stronger the entire network becomes, so adding in Madison-Milwaukee to the Midwestern Amtrak network will grow ridership for the entire system. And that will reduce our oil consumption, increase our mobility, reduce our traffic congestion. And each of those things will make us wealthier. That's a higher standard of living for all of us. Great news!

When these trains are running between Madison and Milwaukee (and we're still shooting for 2011, according to Governor Doyle), I can't wait to take one. It is not fun to get between Madison and Chicago with a three hour drive. I predict a large amount of traffic between Chicago and Madison on the train.

Crude Awakening: Art photos of oil in the water in Lake Michigan from Jane Fulton Alt

2010-07-01T12:19:00.001-05:00

It's hard to imagine oil in the water destroying beaches. Everyone around the Gulf of Mexico is either living with that today or very fearful that their beach may be next.

The Chicago Tribune featured this photo montage from photographer Jane Fulton Alt, imagining what oil in Lake Michigan could do. It's below.

Part of the solution is electric-powered transportation, and building high speed rail is a major part of that solution. Spread the word. And tell Congress to spend $4 billion on it next year: www.FourBillion.com

HSR planning surges!

2010-06-29T10:20:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, June 28th, the FRA announced that it will begin accepting applications for $2.1 billion in grants to continue the development of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors. In addition, $245 million will be available for individual construction projects within corridors. Grant awards for the $2.1 billion and $245 million from the FY2010 DOT appropriations, are expected to be announced by September 30, 2010.

Keep in mind that the report by the U.S. Conference of Mayors projects HSR to benefit Chicago to the tune of up to $6.1 billion per year in new business and up to 42,000 jobs.

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Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a packed seminar for High Speed Rail in Chicago, which was sponsored by the Japan International Transport Institute and held at the Union League Club of Chicago. Our own Rick Harnish was among the keynote speakers. The large number of attendees at the seminar, coupled with the FRA funding announcements and the eagerness of countries with HSR to work with the Midwest, and the entire U.S. for that matter, are all signs of a rapidly approaching HSR reality for our region and our country.

Below: IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig addresses the crowd.

Summer holiday security measures

2010-06-28T11:44:00.003-05:00

Fox 2 in St. Louis reports on the increased security for Amtrak passengers that has been made possible by the injection of stimulus dollars.

This comes on the heels of Amtrak President, Joseph Boardman, stating that, "Amtrak has no plans to follow most U.S. airlines and charge passengers for baggage. Security screening in major rail stations will be handled without installing the types of screening machines used at airports. Amtrak is increasing the use of dogs trained to detect explosives and vapors, especially on Northeast Corridor trains."

Glowing news for rail in Chicago

2010-06-21T12:29:00.003-05:00

As Amtrak gears up for $115 million in upgrades to Chicago's Union Station, a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors is projecting that Chicago will gain upwards of 42,000 new jobs and $6.1 billion in additional economic activity from a fully realized Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.

The report is summarized in the below video clip:

Q&A about rail in Michigan

2010-06-15T14:36:00.003-05:00

Detroit newsradio station, WWJ, interviewed the chairman of the Michigan Association of Rail Passengers this past Sunday, June 13th, about planned upgrades and the ongoing discussion to improve service in the Wolverine State. Click here for the brief interview.

I forgot what a wolverine actually looked like, so in case you forgot too...

Illinois applies for cash to plan 220 mph service

2010-06-15T13:16:00.001-05:00

Courtesy of Chicago Breaking News:

The state of Illinois has applied for $8 million in federal funds to help pay for planning regional high speed rail service.

The Midwest High Speed Rail Association on Monday said it applauded Illinois officials, including Gov. Pat Quinn, for making high speed rail a priority. The Illinois Department of Transportation applied for the grant money. The money would be used to begin designs for a 220-mph bullet train between Chicago and St. Louis.

The money would pay for the study of potential routes, the development of a business plan and an environmental review.

Rick Harnish, the executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, says the bullet trains "are critical to reinventing the Midwest" and meeting the region's environmental, energy and economic challenges.

Federal HSR dollars delivered to Wisconsin

2010-05-28T13:14:00.005-05:00

The FRA announced yesterday that nearly $80 million, of the $8 billion allocated to high speed rail, was distributed to states. As far as the Midwest is concerned, Wisconsin received "$5,700,000 for environmental assessments of planned new stations on the route between Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin that will host passenger rail service operating at speeds up to 110mph."

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Local student wins Amtrak Video Contest

2010-05-14T12:40:00.003-05:00

Congrats to DePaul student, Paul Hennessey, who's music video won Amtrak's "best original train travel-related video" contest. Paul's video and the 2nd place entry can be seen below. On a separate note, kudos to Amtrak on the good looking user interface of this video player.

Sect LaHood on Japanese HSR test track

2010-05-12T14:54:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, May 11th, Secretary LaHood experienced 312 mph on the test track of a Japanese maglev train. The secretary voiced the U.S. government's commitment to further developing passenger rail, while creating jobs at home.

$4 Billion for HSR in 2011

2010-05-12T14:43:00.000-05:00

Our own Rick Harnish was on hand yesterday in Washington DC to support the call for the federal government to dedicate $4 billion towards high speed rail in 2011 and beyond. Please visit FourBillion.com to easily ask your legislators to support this measure.

photo courtesy of Transportation For America

*official press release

National Train Day in Chicago and Amtrak's CEO

2010-05-08T20:46:00.009-05:00

Today was National Train Day across the country and here in Chicago. A commitment from IL Gov Pat Quinn to HSR in the Midwest, flowing through Chicago, and strong attendance marked the day's event at Union Station -- see below

Meanwhile, this past Thursday, May 6th, Amtrak CEO, Joseph Boardman appeared on Fox Business to reaffirm Amtrak's role in the national transportation landscape.

Congressional Subcommittee meets in Chicago to discuss HSR

2010-04-21T14:25:00.001-05:00

The Congressional Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials met yesterday at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago to discuss the high-speed intercity passenger rail grants that were recently awarded under the stimulus act and the impact the grants will have on the region. Among the notable attendees were:

Wisconsin Gov Jim Doyle reiterated the positive effect that HSR projects will have on Wisconsin's construction, engineering, and design & supply industries. Gov Doyle's testimony can be found here.
Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky stated that rail funding would create more than 57,000 jobs, while making a long neglected national investment in rail transportation.
Illinois Congressman Dan Lipinski said Amtrak and Metra users should notice a difference in commuter times within two years.
Our own Rick Harnish testified on the importance of 220 mph service.
FRA Administrator Joe Szabo's testimony can be found here.

*After the hearing, Administrator Szabo stated that Positive Train Control, which under federal mandate must be implemented by 2015, could have prevented the tragic accident in University Park.
"Positive train control is probably the most significant safety initiative in the history of railroading and certainly something that would have the ability to prevent a tragedy like this,''

Chicago's Auto Train and Madison's downtown station

2010-04-19T10:26:00.005-05:00

The Tribune discusses the benefits enjoyed by the increasing number of riders on Amtrak's Auto Train between Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL (near Orlando). The Midwest is being factored into expansion plans for the unique service. According to Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero, "We would love to go east to west and also head from Florida to Chicago."

Future routes are examined on the basis of vacation and retiree markets, according to the Auto Train's operations supervisor, Larry Vollten. Besides Florida to Chicago, Chicago to Arizona and Chicago to Texas are being considered. Routes like these will only move closer to realization as more and more passengers, and in this case motorists, shift to Amtrak.

Vollten went on to say, "The fascinating thing about this crowd is that we did a feasibility study in Chicago and it found there is the same clientele in Chicago as there is in the Northeast United States."

Meanwhile, The Wisconsin State Journal mentions the progress that is being made to bring the city's HSR station closer to downtown. Alderman Mike Verveer, District 4, says it best,“From my perspective, the closer we can get Amtrak to downtown and the campus, the better."

Amtrak has also committed to servicing La Crosse, WI regardless of La Crosse's inclusion or exclusion on the HSR route between Milwaukee and Madison.

Amtrak ridership thrives in the Middle West

2010-04-11T20:55:00.001-05:00

An Amtrak press release this past Thursday (4/8/10) states:
In the Chicago hub, ridership on Lincoln Service (Chicago – St. Louis) showed significant growth with an 18 percent jump in March and 11.6 percent for the six month period. Hiawatha Service (Chicago – Milwaukee) continues to grow with a 14.3 percent increase in March and up 4.8 percent fiscal year to date. Elsewhere in the Midwest, the Missouri River Runner (Kansas City - St. Louis) is up 24.2 percent for March and 15.8 percent for the first half of the Amtrak fiscal year, while the Blue Water (Chicago - Port Huron) increased by 21.7 percent in March and 5.2 percent for fiscal year to date.

This increase is due in part to:

Airlines passing more petty costs onto passengers. Spirit Airlines recently announced that they will start charging $45 per carry-on bag. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will be proposing legislation to prevent Spirit and other airlines from doing this.
More travelers seeing the benefit of rail over air travel for trips of 500 miles or less, as evidenced by the quote from Amtrak spokesman, Marc Magliari, "While Amtrak considers the car its primary competition, the rail service has captured about 16 percent of the combined air-rail market between Chicago and St. Louis."
90% on-time performance for the Missouri River Runner, thanks to a 9,000 foot siding built by Amtrak and Union Pacific for $8.1 million (picture below)

Hoosier Speed Rail and more federal dollars

2010-03-31T17:30:00.000-05:00

The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has reported that the FRA will be releasing an additional $115 million for HSR planning and design projects. FRA spokesman Rob Kulat said, "Most of it is for planning, which is what a lot of the states need — environmental planning, designs, engineering." This money will go towards developing projects that not yet "shovel ready".

The $115 million comes from:

$65 million left over from the FRA's 2009 budget
$50 million from the FRA's 2010 budget for kick starting HSR projects

Meanwhile, the Indiana HSR Association recently held a conference at Valparaiso University to examine the economic benefits that HSR could hold for Indiana:

Perspective on CREATE

2010-03-13T11:09:00.007-06:00

Chicago Business Today provides some perspective on the CREATE program and the funding challenges for completing each of it's 71 projects (formerly 78 projects until CN acquired the EJ&E railway). I am aware that this blog devotes quite a bit of attention to news on CREATE, but the full realization of this program will have an enormous impact on the frequency and punctuality of passenger rail travel in the Midwest and the future of American HSR.

CREATE's $3 billion grand total has thus far acquired funding from:

Class I railroads ($232 million collectively committed, half has been received)
State of Illinois ($10 million received and an additional $400 million committed from the capital construction program, which is now in doubt with the state's budget woes)
Federal Stimulus funds ($100 million TIGER Grant and $133 million for Englewood Flyover)
2005 Congressional earmark ($100 million)

Below, Senator Durbin speaks at the site of the new Englewood flyover and the impact it will have on HSR, while CREATE project manager, Jeffrey Sriver, highlights some of the funding challenges-

A station fit for Cincinnati

2010-03-12T23:32:00.006-06:00

Amtrak is asking all Cincinnatians for their thoughts on the future home for passenger rail in The Queen City. Major cities with historical and grand passenger rail portals still in existence need to leverage the priceless atmosphere that only these great spaces can bring to the reinvention of American passenger rail in their city.

Fortunately it looks like decision makers are leaning towards re-establishing Cincinnati's Union Terminal as it's passenger rail station. Built in 1933, the stunning building sits 5 minutes from downtown, 8 minutes from the University of Cincinnati, 12 minutes from Xavier University and attracted 1.4 million visitors last year to the Museum Center at Union Terminal.

HSR and Airlines co-existing

2010-03-11T12:15:00.005-06:00

The Wall Street Journal reports that during an address earlier this week to the Federal Aviation Administration’s annual forecasting conference, Sec. Ray LaHood made the future very clear when saying,

“Let me give you a little bit of political advice: Don’t be against high-speed rail,’’ Sec. LaHood said. “It’s coming to America. This is the president’s vision, this is the vice president’s vision, this is America’s vision…. We’re going to get into the high-speed rail business.’’

In two or three decades, Mr. LaHood said, U.S. cities will be connected by high-speed rail – whether airlines like it or not.

“People want alternatives,’’ he said pointedly. “People are still going to fly, but we need alternatives. So get with the program.’’

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For anyone out there on Twitter, Amtrak now has an account -- http://twitter.com/amtrakusa

The future of Amtrak technology

2010-03-08T17:25:00.005-06:00

The future of Amtrak is looking bright after Amtrak released a RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for developing an onboard a wireless platform that will provide:

Wi-Fi for passengers on ALL trains
Support automated on-board signage to make announcements and provide information en route
A secure Wi-Fi channel for Amtrak to conduct on-board transactions (such as ticketing or on-board sales)
Support for content catching (data gathering) and delivery, such as audio and video entertainment

Could one of these resemble the future seatbacks of Amtrak trains??

*Left: JetBlue -- Right: Virgin America

HSR: Chicago to New York

2010-03-06T17:14:00.003-06:00

In a concise and fantastic Op-Ed, former NARP Director, Larry Joyce, discusses the New York, Pittsburgh & Chicago Railroad that was almost built in 1907.

"The proposed NYP & CRR would have been a truly high-speed railroad with grades of less than two-tenths of one percent and curvature of less than two degrees. The mileage of the existing route between New York and Chicago would be reduced from 924 miles to 780.

The mileage of the existing route between New York and Pittsburgh would be reduced from 444 miles to 355 miles. This reduction was achieved by eliminating direct service to Philadelphia and by straightening the railroad through central Pennsylvania.

Even with maximum speed of only 110 mph, travel time from New York to Chicago could be reduced from the existing 19 hours to less than 12 hours, and the time between New York and Pittsburgh could be reduced from 9 hours to less than 5 hours."

Sect. LaHood supports HSR to AASHTO

2010-03-06T16:29:00.006-06:00

This past Wednesday, March 3rd, USDOT Sect. Ray LaHood stood in front of AASHTO (American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials) and reiterated the federal government's long term support for passenger rail. Sect LaHood went as far as saying that in 20 to 30 years America WILL BE connected by intercity high speed passenger rail.

Skip to 5:14 for his remarks on rail:

CREATE: Englewood flyover construction

2010-03-06T16:07:00.003-06:00

As many as 1,500 new jobs could be created from construction of the flyover at 63rd and State in the Englewood section Chicago. The flyover will separate Metra from Norfolk Southern tracks that carries southbound Amtrak train. The project is part of the CREATE program and was funded with $133 million in stimulus dollars. The completed flyover will eliminate the daily conflict between 78 Metra Rock Island trains and approximately 60 freight and Amtrak trains.

Below, the project is announced by Mayor Daley and Gov. Quinn reinforces the importance of rail infrastructure to Illinois' role as an inland port.

Improving American tourism

2010-03-04T14:57:00.003-06:00

I have always loved the idea of increased domestic tourism. Few countries, if any, offer the cultural and geographic diversity that the contiguous United States does. Every year, thousands of American college students travel around Europe easily and safely on passenger trains. The train allows them to catch up on sleep, meet fellow travelers from around the globe and arrive at their destination without having to worry about the language barriers or rules of the road that could make navigating European highways quite treacherous.

Attracting foreign students and all international tourists to hop from city to city on soon-to-be-improving Amtrak service will not only spur additional economic activity, but increase America's profile as a global tourist destination that is easy and affordable to navigate. Granted this also depends on making our major cities more walkable and transit friendly, but I digress. Similar to the popular Eurail Pass, Amtrak currently has USA Rail Pass which could be an attractive option for those looking to see as much of the US as possible during their time abroad.

Below is a quick video (less than 2 mins) from the Oval Office of President Obama signing the Travel Promotion Act.

Milwaukee: site of Talgo-America

2010-03-02T11:25:00.008-06:00

Today Wisconsin Gov Jim Doyle announced that Spanish train manufacturer, Talgo, will be manufacturing trains for Wisconsin and Oregon's Amtrak Hiawatha and Cascades routes, respectively. The plant will create 125 manufacturing jobs.

The Milwaukee facility will be located in the vacant Tower Automotive plant. Talgo CEO and President Antonio Perez said, “Our analysis included the following criteria: economic conditions, technical/operational conditions, logistics, cost of living, training facilities in the vicinity and availability of a skilled workforce. We believe that the Tower site will allow us not only to deliver the train sets on time and with our high standards of quality, but it will also allow for future growth." The Tower site has a railroad spur that connects to the new Madison line.

Progressive Railroading reports that Oregon has recently purchased two train sets for a cost of $36.6 million to enhance service between Eugene, OR and Vancouver, BC.

Talgo-America already has Wisconsin openings listed on its job site.

Here is the announcement:

Freak accident between Amtrak and Detroit Fire Truck

2010-03-01T13:10:00.005-06:00

In SW Detroit, Wolverine Train 353 was bound for Chicago when it collided with a fire truck. Thankfully no one was reported injured.

This incident reinforces the importance of Amtrak's latest rail safety campaign.

Acela+Wifi and HSR in Brazil

2010-03-01T11:24:00.005-06:00

The AP reports that Amtrak will be rolling out AmtrakConnect, it's free wireless internet service, on all 20 Acela train and in the gate areas of the following Northeast Corridor Stations:

Washington Union Station
Baltimore Penn Station
Philadelphia 30th Street Station
New York Penn Station
Providence Station
Boston - Route 128 Station
Wilmington Station (2011 - once station renovations are completed)

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Air Rail News has word that Brazil is looking to have a High Speed Rail Corridor (Rio de Janeiro - Sao Paulo - Campinas) up and running in time for the 2016 Olympics.

Midwest hub for HSR: Union Station or a new facility?

2010-02-27T17:23:00.007-06:00

The Tribune's Blair Kamin reports on a proposed design and location for a new HSR station in Chicago.

"Union Station is a poor candidate to serve as a high-speed rail hub.

Despite the soaring image of its barrel-vaulted Great Hall, the passenger concourse east of the hall is confusing and confining, a warren trapped within the structural columns that hold up the office building above it. Going forward, Union Station lacks adequate space to marshal more passengers and handle more trains. Nor does it connect to the Chicago Transit Authority’s express service to O’Hare. Its fundamental problem, though, is that it isn’t really a station. It’s a terminal.

Almost all of Union Station’s tracks, whether northbound or southbound, stop at the station instead of running straight through. That’s no good if you’re a high-speed rail passenger traveling, say, from Milwaukee to Cincinnati. You’d have to change trains in Chicago. Who has time for that? You’d fly instead."

A new Union Station is on the way!

2010-02-22T16:07:00.009-06:00

Today, the Tribune's Blair Kamin reported on the Amtrak sponsored contest to redevelop Chicago's Union Station, one of Amtrak's most valuable assets, for the first time since it's 1992 renovation by Lucien Lagrange Architects of Chicago.
The firms chosen to compete are:

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (Chicago)
U.S. Equities Realty (Chicago)
Jones Lang LaSalle (Chicago)
Goody Clancy (Boston)
Wallace Roberts & Todd (Philadelphia)
Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn (New York)
KlingStubbins (Cambridge, MA and New York)

Late last month, the Tribune called for a redevelopment of Union Station to accommodate the increased ridership that will result from Chicago's position as the hub for high speed trains in the Midwest. Hopefully a strong proposal by one of the above 7 firms, will help secure additional TIGER funding, the same way New York was awarded $85 million for Phase 1 of Moynihan Station.

Today's announcement arrives on the heels of last week's TIGER grants, which will support high impact CREATE programs, such as the 75th Street Corridor project, that will shift Metra SouthWest Service trains to LaSalle Street station in order to free up Union Station for increased Amtrak and Metra service.

You can help the cause for a modernized Union Station by sending an email to Mayor Daley, via the Midwest HSR Association's proposal for Union Station as Chicago's downtown airport.

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On a separate, but Midwest related note, the EPA will invest $2.2 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan which was signed by President Bush in 2002, to clean up their polluted beaches and water.

Boston to Chicago on Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited

2010-02-19T22:18:00.005-06:00

Thanks to Boston.com for this piece:

Also, the Infrastructurist featured a new Fox show that could be trying to scare viewers away from High Speed Rail, which isn't far off from Fox Business appearing to do the same.

Final list of TIGER grants and news from St. Paul

2010-02-17T10:01:00.009-06:00

Sect. Ray LaHood remarks on the recently released TIGER Grants -- The White House's official release on the grants -- For a complete list of TIGER Grants - click here

Midwestern rail projects include:

Project NameState(s) TIGER Grant Amount
CREATE Program Projects IL $ 100,000,000
National Gateway Freight Rail Corridor OH, PA, WV, MD $ 98,000,000
Kansas City Transit Corridors & Green Impact Zone Project MO, KS $ 50,000,000
Saint Paul Union Depot Multi-Modal Transit and Transportation Hub MN $ 35,000,000
M1/Woodward Avenue Light Rail Project MI $ 25,000,000
Normal Multimodal Transportation Center IL $ 22,000,000
Kent Central Gateway Multimodal Transit Facility OH $ 20,000,000
Ames Intermodal Facility IA $ 8,463,000
The Southwestern Illinois Intermodal Freight Transportation Hub IL 6,000,000$

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Meanwhile the Star Tribune highlights the $35 million just received for the St. Paul Union Depot.

The battle for western Wisconsin rail is on! (Part 2)

2010-02-17T09:18:00.004-06:00

Eau Claire makes it's case for being along the planned high speed rail corridor:

The battle for western Wisconsin rail is on! (Part 1)

2010-02-17T00:04:00.008-06:00

La Crosse, currently a stop on the Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle) states it's case:

Federal dollars for Illinois and Wisconsin rail projects

2010-02-16T23:44:00.004-06:00

"The federal grant, being announced Wednesday, will be used to fund the 16 rail projects under the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency program, CREATE.

It's intended to unclog bottlenecks that cause freight trains to take a day or longer to pass through Chicago and block passenger trains and vehicles.

The program includes overpasses or underpasses and track and signal improvements, including a bridge to separate rail and road traffic to be built at an existing rail crossing on 71st Street in Bridgeview.

The projects will cut rail transit delays by 57,631 passenger hours per year and reduce motorist delays by 344,499 hours annually for a combined savings of nearly $10 million per year, according to CREATE, a public-private partnership of railroads and Chicago and state transportation agencies.

Train delays cost shippers $265 million a year, CREATE estimates."

Thank you to The Tribune for the story

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Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel reports that "The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee agreed Tuesday to accept $822 million in federal stimulus funds for high-speed rail linking Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago, but not before lawmakers wrangled over whether the project was necessary.

The funds had been sought by Gov. Jim Doyle to link the three cities - and potentially the Twin Cities. The vote represents the final action for Wisconsin to tap the stimulus funding for rail.

The vote broke down two ways - lawmakers voted 12-4 for $810 million to build the rail system and 16-0 for improvements on the existing rail line between Milwaukee and Chicago."

PBS: Beyond the Motorcity

2010-02-09T16:51:00.003-06:00

Last night, PBS debuted it's 86 minute special on the future of Detroit and the importance that transit and improved passenger rail will have to the Motorcity and the Midwest.

HSR example: Detroit to Chicago

2010-02-09T16:27:00.003-06:00

America 2050 has just released this video of one possibility that high speed rail will bring our region:

An Architect's POV of HSR in the Midwest

2010-01-31T13:33:00.004-06:00

The Chicago Tribune's Blair Kamin examines an Architectural point of view of high speed rail in the midwest and making stations "proud gateways", rather than "eyesores."

Discussed are upgrades to Chicago's Union Station and "the proposed $2 billion West Loop Transportation Center under Clinton Street, which would connect Union Station and the Ogilvie Transportation Center with CTA buses and rail lines, Pace buses and high-speed rail."

Careers in transportation

2010-01-31T11:47:00.003-06:00

For anyone interested in a career in public transportation, the below video was just released by the National Center for Transit Research at the Center for Urban Transportation Research at the University of South Florida.

Cabinet Members travel in support of HSR

2010-01-28T14:30:00.004-06:00

From the White House: Office of the Press Secretary

Obama Administration officials are traveling across the country this week to announce funding for the high speed rail projects and discuss how this investment will create local jobs and rebuild the economy.
Today:

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson will travel to Durham, North Carolina,
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will visit Columbus, Ohio and
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will hold an event in Washington, DC,
Executive Director of the White House Council on Auto Communities and Workers Ed Montgomery will visit St. Louis, Missouri and
Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

On Friday:

a senior Department of Transportation official will travel to California and
FRA Administrator Szabo will hold an event in Chicago, Illinois.

For further details on the major corridor projects, click here:

HSR Money released in Tampa

2010-01-28T13:01:00.003-06:00

During the President's trip to Tampa this morning, he announced the recipients of the Stimulus Package's $8 billion in High Speed Rail Grants. The Midwest region received roughly $2.6 billion in federal grants, which is second only to the West region, due largely to the $2.25 billion going to California. Illinois will receive about $1.23 billion of the $4.5 billion it requested. For more read this article from Chicago Breaking News

Secretary LaHood talks more about the announcement on his blog. Below is a picture from the USDOT of the Midwest's grants:

Also, a tour a the historic and soon to be refurbished Union Depot in St. Paul is courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio and Secretary LaHood offers a brief synopsis of 2009 in the Department of Transportation:

Minnesota fans invading Milwaukee and wifi news

2010-01-17T15:58:00.003-06:00

Fans of the Minnesota Timberwolves will be invading Milwaukee the weekend of January 23rd, via Amtrak's Empire Builder, to support upgrading the line between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities.

Also, the Northeast Corridor's Acela train will be upgrading it's first class seats, while also rolling out wifi this March. It's tough to argue with these upgrades to the nation's fastest passenger line since it accounted for 27% of Amtrak's revenue in 2008.

Video of Governor Pat Quinn talking up high speed rail at his State of the State

2010-01-16T14:05:00.000-06:00

This is very exciting news.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn in his State of the State called for continued investment in rail throughout the state -- and particularly 220 mph high speed rail connecting Chicago to Champaign!

This is the first time a Governor of the Midwest has called for European-style high speed rail. As part of an ever-improving network of rail, 220 mph high speed rail is the essential investment in our economic growth, driving down the cost of doing business by shrinking our state and region.

Here is the video (the discussion on rail starts around the 25:00 mark):

Arnold gets it! We need 21st century infrastructure.

2010-01-10T21:07:00.001-06:00

Here is Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Meet the Press this morning:

Look, this country need to rebuild itself. We are still living off the Eisenhower era and off the Roosevelt era when they built the thousands of bridges and the thousands of government buildings and the roads, the highway system and all of those things. What's the new thing that we're building? We haven't built anything in decades. We need a high speed rail. We need new infrastructure. We need to think about it because we have countries like China and Europe that are very fast gaining on us and surpassing us. So we got to get our act together and really make this country kind of live in the 21st century, not be with the infrastructure in the 20th century.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Exactly right! Nice job, Governor.

Bad weather strikes Amtrak

2010-01-10T17:18:00.005-06:00

Mother Nature has given Amtrak a rough few days in the Midwest with:

132 passengers having to wait in St. Paul for the weekend.
Two detailments on the Texas Eagle being investigated.
Weather conditions in Nebraska and a collision with a truck, causing passengers on the California Zephyr to arrive in Chicago 23 hours late.

A bit of good press for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation is:

The restoration of dining service on the Lake Shore Limited between Chicago and New York.
Amtrak's clever placement of advertisements in the bins of airport security lines.

Tips for family train travel, VP Biden and a snowy perspective

2010-01-07T12:43:00.008-06:00

ABC News reports good tips for taking the train with children, which is becoming an increasingly attractive mode with additional safety measures on airlines.

VP Biden has written an impassioned opinion piece stating, "Amtrak doesn't just carry us from one place to another--it makes things possible that otherwise wouldn't be."

While snow is falling through out the Midwest today, take a look at winter from the perspective of Amtrak's California Zephyr:

Great video: President Obama on his vision for high speed rail

2010-01-04T12:20:00.000-06:00

We really just can't get enough of this.

President Barack Obama talking about high speed rail, both improved Amtrak service on freight tracks and new passenger-only high speed rail tracks. And the best part:

"There's no reason why we can't do this. This is America."

The President started this train with $8 billion as one-time jumpstart funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in February.

Then Congress upped the ante by appropriating $2.5 billion in December for 2010.

That means we're now on track to spend $25 billion over a decade on high speed rail, plus the $8 billion in the stimulus for $33 billion.

Not bad....but China is spending $300 billion over the next decade on high speed rail.

So we need to up the ante from $2.5 billion annually to $4 or $5 billion annually on high speed rail.

This is our time! This is how we build prosperity for the next generation or two or three!

The President gets it. Let's back him up.

Charlie Crist wishes a Merry Christmas with HSR

2009-12-18T16:10:00.003-06:00

U.S. Rep (Florida) John Mica has stated that the finalists for the HSR stimulus funding has been narrowed down to Chicago, Texas, California and Florida. The announcement is expected to be made in late January or early February of 2010.

Ray LaHood on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart talking high speed rail!

2009-12-17T08:40:00.000-06:00

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood -- perhaps the nation's biggest cheerleader for high speed rail (besides Vice-President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama) wetn on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart this week and talked up our favorite topic: high speed rail.

The pithiest quote came early, and while you should watch it, it went something like this:

Stewart: Let me ask you a question as the Secretary of Transportation. I'm a CEO of a billion dollar corporation. I need to go meet the President of the United States in the morning. But it's foggy. Can I really not get there?

LaHood: Amtrak. Amtrak runs in the fog.

Nice!

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Gov. Rendell on a Nat'l Infrastructure Bank for HSR

2009-12-11T11:37:00.006-06:00

I: What’s your view on long-term funding for high speed rail? Would a NIB (National Infrastructure Bank) ensure that HSR projects are not just begun, but also completed?

R: The Obama administration deserves credit for designating funds in the stimulus bill for high speed rail. But none of these projects really deserve the title “high-speed rail” — rather, they are all mid-speed, or up to 120 miles an hour. But high speed in the modern world is more like 225 miles per hour. High speed rail is a good example of why we need a NIB. Right now TIGER grants can accept HSR applications, but once the stimulus goes away, there’s no vehicle for many states to apply for funding that’s wide in scope. If you’re building HSR in Ohio, you might do conventional track with high speed trains and electrification — but then you couldn’t run a high speed train through Pennsylvania out of Ohio, since PA isn’t using the same track. So there has to be some place for national management and funding of these projects.

Overall, HSR is a 10-year investment of somewhere between $700 billion and $1.3 trillion. States should share in some of that cost, but its a significant investment, there’s no ifs ands or buts about that. But other countries have done it. Pennsylvanians who go to Europe come back amazed at how advanced their rail system is, while we have nothing like it.

I: How should the $8 billion in stimulus money designated for high speed rail be used?

R: That $8 billion in funds is being used to increase speed on regional rail lines that have multi-state capacity. Take Pennsylvania. Amrak collaborated to put $74 million up and used $150 million to do work on our tracks to increase the speed of Harrisburg line. We cut the travel time down and increased ridership from 898,ooo people to around 1.2 million, just by lowering the speed 30 minutes. But you still couldn’t call what we have “high speed rail.”

I: Is it a better idea to adapt our current rail system to high speeds? Or do we need to start from scratch with HSR?

R: Adapting what we have is very very hard. The Acela is the closest thing we have right now to a high speed train in this country. It can reach speeds of up to 150 an hour, but only on a stretch of about 20 miles between New York and Washington are the tracks straight enough to reach this speed. If we built new straight tracks, we could do New York to D.C. in 1 hour and 35 minutes. Philadelphia to New York would be a 36-minute trip if we had straight tracks. This would let us end the Delta and U.S. Air shuttle. And if you could get rid of the shuttle, that would get rid of the cause of so many air traffic delays. Just imagine it!

*Thank you to the Infrastructurist for the interview

Bring Lawyers, Guns and Money

2009-12-09T17:59:00.002-06:00

I am sure lawyers were involved when last night Congress approved guns to be carried on Amtrak along with a spending bill that includes $2.5 billion for HSR (a compromise between the Senate's $1.2 and House's $4 billion. You might ask what can $2.5 billion get you when it comes to HSR. Well it will get you more than $1.2 and less than $4. Other than that, we will have to wait until early next year, just 22 days away, to find out which corridors the federal government has faith in.

Good News for HSR out Springfield from Pantagraph.com -- Illinois Department of Transportation agreed Wednesday to finance a study on behalf of the city of Springfield that could help determine which route through the Capital City is best suited for faster Amtrak trains. Illinois wants to install a second set of tracks along the Union Pacific Railroad line running between Chicago and St. Louis in order to boost train speeds to 110 mph, up from the current high speed of 79 mph.

*Cooperation on potential HSR corridors between state and local lawmakers will likely improve the odds of landing a some of the $8 billion.

Fresh Squeezed Rail in 2012

2009-12-08T23:55:00.005-06:00

Big news out of Florida late Tuesday (12/8/09) is the State Legislature's final approval to the SunRail train that will serve Central Florida passengers beginning in 2012.

Thanks to the Tribune for the news.

HSR & Job Creation from Sect. LaHood

2009-12-06T12:46:00.005-06:00

The Tribune reported, "Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at a rail manufacturing conference that more than 30 foreign and domestic companies have promised to establish or expand operations in the United States if they are chosen to build high-speed lines. The commitments will ensure the rail program will create jobs in the U.S. and boost domestic manufacturing."

LaHood said he hopes rail-related manufacturing is located in states including Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan, which leads the nation with 15.1% unemployment.

Keep in mind the FRA has received 45 requests totaling about $50 billion from 24 states. The Transportation Department’s Federal Railroad Administration will award the rail money to states “early next year,” LaHood said. Each State will decide how to spend their share.

In a great article from The Tribune, the superb quality of meals on the Baltimore & Ohio is remembered. One hopes of the day when passenger rail in this country will be not only fast, frequent and dependable, but healthy and delicious... just the way 007 would have it.

Thanksgiving update and A Conservative Voice

2009-11-22T01:17:00.008-06:00

With the busiest travel day of the year, the day before Thanksgiving, occurring this week, it seems appropriate to post on just how many people will be traveling this holiday (Thank you to the AAA Auto Club):
By car: 33.2 million travelers
By air: 2.3 million
By Amtrak: 125,000

The jaw dropping gap in popularity between Amtrak and the other modes is not reason to smile at first glance, especially given the wishes of myself and so many others that Passenger Rail quickly evolve not only into a fast and affordable option for a majority of Americans, but become the preferred option for all of those traveling 500 miles or less.

The glimmer of hope for the move away from air and towards rail can be found in the above linked article:

"There will be a 6.7 percent decrease in the number of air travelers, totaling 2.3 million this year, continuing a decade-long decline of Thanksgiving air travel."
"2.9 million people will take other modes of transport, including trains and buses. That's up about 1.2 percent from last year. Amtrak expects Wednesday to be its heaviest single travel day of the year, with as many as 125,000 passengers nationwide. The rail system is bracing for the holiday by running more trains with higher capacity on its lines in the Pacific Northwest, Chicago area and the Northeast corridor. Most of those will run on the busiest days — the day before Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after."

A recent article from ABC News Australia states, "an estimated 1.3 million people die on the world's roads each year", which in turn "costs the world economy $540 Billion." While I do not know how they arrived at this figure, there is no denying that in the United States our roads are a dangerous place that annually consumes far too many lives (pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and passengers) and far too much money in the form of accidents and severe congestion.

Public transportation and passenger rail offer the freedom of movement for those who are not able to drive, cannot afford to drive or fly, but like all other Americans deserve the mobility to get where they want to go. A poll conducted in 2008 showed that 60% of Americans consider themselves "conservative". Millions of these conservatives are the people who do not believe in supporting quality public transportation. A new book, Moving Minds: Conservatives and Public Transportation by: William Lind addresses these concerns for many of my countrymen who lean to the right.

While, there is not much about High Speed Rail in the Midwest to report on until the FRA doles out the $8 Billion of Stimulus fund in early 2010, there is some great news out of Minnesota where the new Northstar Commuter Rail is up and running between Big Lake and the new home of the Twins, Target Field in downtown Minneapolis.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and travel safely.

The Amtrak World Series

2009-10-26T15:57:00.011-05:00

2 Months ago the St. Louis Cardinals took Amtrak from DC to Philadelphia. It appears that the Cards set a trend because "for the first time in recent memory, the [Philadelphia Phillies] boarded the Phillie Express from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia about 4:45 p.m., bound for New York’s Penn Station."

The article goes on to state, "When the first members of the team emerged from Penn Station on the corner of 32nd Street and Eighth Avenue, they were greeted by a couple of Phillies fans. Their voices were soon overtaken by more lusty locals chanting, “Let’s go, Yankees.”"

What a shrewd move it would be for Amtrak and Major League Baseball, the NHL, the NBA and possibly the NFL, to utilize Amtrak for travel and marketing purposes. Hannah Kirkner, a native Philadelphian living in New York, was delighted to see her team on a Manhattan sidewalk. “It’s very representative of our city to take the train. It’s so human.”

Hannah is absolutely right! Making players accessible to their fans in a great public space like a train station is a win-win-win for the sport, the fan and the profile of passenger rail. Imagine Cardinal fans greeting their team in Chicago's Union Station as they arrive for a series against the Cubs, or Twins fans wishing their team well before leaving from St. Paul's Union Depot before a divisional series against the White Sox.

Professional and collegiate sports are a key part of American culture, especially in the Midwest. Amtrak/passenger rail must become a larger part of our culture and a stronger public relationship with major athletics is an excellent place to start.

Yankees in 6

Florida rising

2009-10-19T18:04:00.003-05:00

In the race for a slice of the $8 Billion HSR pie, Florida is doing it's best to get a seat at the table. The Palm Beach Post has a good piece highlighting the benefit of passenger rail for the state as, "The synergy and relationships that can be established between universities and hospitals and biotech clusters are more successful when you don't have one- or two-hour delays."

This comes on the heels of Florida Governor Charlie Crist endorsing State Senate President Jeff Atwater’s proposal to call a special session to fund commuter rail projects.

Amtrak & Disney, HSR oversight and CTA Seniors

2009-10-15T10:22:00.006-05:00

Amtrak and Disney have teamed up for a 16,000 mile 36 state tour to promote another remake of A Christmas Carol.

Events and promotions like this are hopefully just the beginning of what will be a cultural shift towards engaging young minds in passenger rail. Yes, I know it's just a train promoting a movie, but hopefully our country's movement towards Higher Speed Rail, hopefully High Speed Rail in the not too distant future, coupled with promotions and events that interest children will nurture the next generation of travelers who will utilize rail because they grew up with it being the fastest, most comfortable and most fun way to travel. Making passenger rail enjoyable for all ages through improved performance, competitive pricing and enticing marketing campaigns will have a lasting and positive effect on our nation's transportation and social landscape.

Thanks to Streetsblog Capitol Hill for its entry on HSR Oversight.

S. 1638: The Amtrak Secure Transportation of Firearms Act is currently making its way through Congress.

On a non-HSR, but still interesting note, Mayor Daley has suggested lawmakers reconsider free rides for seniors, people with disabilities and military personnel during the CTA's latest budget crisis, which is resulting in fare increases from $2.25 to $3.00 for the L.

California HSR

2009-10-08T14:15:00.003-05:00

Even though the Midwest is competing with the Golden State for stimulus dollars, it is encouraging to see the publicity and political support behind a true high speed rail plan in the U.S.

Above video courtesy of the CHSRA blog

On the eve of something big...

2009-10-01T17:59:00.007-05:00

It can be best to distract yourself from the anxiety of waiting to see what you'll wake up to. Perhaps we could use a distraction from the tension leading to tomorrow's BIG decision by the IOC about which city will host the 2016 Summer Olympics, so like a kid on Christmas Eve, I have a few things to pass the time until that decision comes down from Copenhagen.

First is a great post by the INFRASTRUCTURIST about Google's new 3D tour of old Penn Station.

Second is an interesting article by The Tribune's Blair Kamin, who says, "Chicago is not floating plans for major infrastructure improvements, like those that transformed Barcelona for the 1992 Games." I am optimistic that the reception of the bid will be a catalyst for those infrastructure improvements, not just in Chicago, but throughout the Midwest, that have long been talked about, but have lacked the necessary funding or hard deadline to get them built.

Finally, our own Rick Harnish spoke today at the Northwestern University Transportation Center about the future of HSR in the US. I had the pleasure the being there and listening not only to Rick, but to a great Q&A afterward that touched on everything from CREATE, freight, rail in Indiana, Cost Benefit Analysis of HSR and a range of other hot button issues.

All that remains to be seen now, is whether Chicago will be adding a fifth star to it's flag.

Amtrak + guns 2

2009-09-27T20:10:00.002-05:00

I could be wrong. After a little more reading and investigation about the security of checked baggage on Amtrak trains, I am withholding judgment on the new mandate that Amtrak allow passengers to carry firearms in checked luggage. My point of view has changed after reading more about:

After all, you can never be too careful with characters on a train.

Let's hope the energy put into this debate can be transformed into positive attention for the demand for passenger rail, the need for increased funding and political support at every level.

Secretary LaHood's wallet

2009-09-22T10:17:00.003-05:00

I haven't wondered much about the contents of our Transportation Secretary's wallet, but if you had the same question as the folks at Politico, then you might find this interesting. As the man charged with overseeing the revival of passenger rail in our country, I figured his wallet was worth a post.

Amtrak is armed

2009-09-18T11:11:00.005-05:00

Not exactly. A lot has been said the last couple days about the potential of Amtrak allowing unloaded guns to be securely carried in checked baggage -- I want to emphasize the importance of the baggage not being accessible during the trip. Appealing to those passengers who desire to travel with their firearm(s), while not risking the safety of the crew or other passengers, would do well to increase ridership.

The last train robbery in the United States was The Great Dinky Robbery of 1963. During that heist, the guns were loaded with blanks (not that it would matter if someone was pointing what appeared to be a loaded gun at you) and the only property taken was 4 young women as dates for the bandits. The last real train robbery was out in Oregon in 1923. The point of this is that firearms have not been a problem on trains for a very long time. However a post 9/11 world raises it's concerns.

Trains are arguably the safest form of travel not only for passengers, but also for their belongings, securely stowed firearms included. Trains are also not as susceptible to being taken over by a passenger, since trains are on tracks and with PTC (positive train control) due to be in place by 12/31/2015. The airlines are necessarily sensitive and our nation's roads are the site of roughly 34,000 automobile deaths a year, while train passengers are typically insulated from bad drivers, Mother Nature's wrath and other dangers facing our roads and skies.

Allowing unloaded guns in securely checked baggage will not make Amtrak any less safe.

The New England Knowledge Corridor

2009-08-26T11:16:00.003-05:00

Former governor Michael S. Dukakis talks about the planned Knowledge Corridor. The corridor would carry passengers from Springfield north to Montpelier, Burlington, and Montreal, connecting the five-college area in and around Amherst with universities such as Dartmouth and the University of Vermont. This would encourage the kind of academic and technological excellence that is the key to New England’s future.

Earlier this month, I mentioned incorporating the universities of the Big Ten with the Midwest's HSR plans. I could not be more excited for, or envious of, New England's planned Knowledge Corridor and the positive example it could set for future corridor planning.

HSR stimulus money will start flowing this fall

2009-08-25T15:41:00.006-05:00

Thank you to the Wall Street Journal

Federal Railroad Administrator, and fellow Midwesterner, Joseph Szabo said "grants will be awarded beginning in late September or early October".

Ride public transit and your bike to good health

2009-08-21T15:23:00.005-05:00

Congressman Jim Oberstar talks about how he became a leading advocate for cycling, while riding on Minnesota's Paul Bunyan Trail.

Given the current debate on healthcare, it is imperative that we not forget about the health benefits of biking and public transit and the impact it can have on the health of our nation. Taking the extra time and energy to take public transportation not only saves you money and keeps the roads less crowded and safer, but it gives you time to mentally unwind, without having to pay attention to the road or look for a parking space. Walking from the station to your destination gives you the exercise that you would otherwise not have sitting in your car.

Get on your bike. Get on the train. Get out of your car. Either way, just get up and move. A healthier society will cost less to take care of.

On a separate health and trains note, Union Pacific was one of 17 winners, the only transportation company, of the 2009 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles award.

CREATE update

2009-08-20T11:39:00.007-05:00

Thank you to Progressive Railroading for the info --

The Association of American Railroads, Federal Highway Administration, Illinois Department of Transportation and Chicago Department of Transportation recently agreed to modify the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program to meet Canadian National’s needs.

The parties eliminated the full Central Corridor between CN’s Waukesha and Chicago subdivisions because CN no longer requires the route after acquiring an alternate corridor through the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway transaction.

Major portions of the Central Corridor’s southern half will be retained to provide a new direct route — over the NS Chicago Line — for Amtrak trains traveling from New Orleans and Carbondale to Chicago Union Station. The route portions will minimize impacts to Amtrak and freight trains already using the line, according to CREATE organizers, who are seeking federal stimulus dollars for the more than $1.5 billion program. The program calls for developing one passenger-rail and four freight-rail corridors to reduce train delays, relieve rail and highway congestion, shorten commuters' travel times, and improve Chicago’s environment and public safety.

Motown's once proud station stands alone

2009-08-19T10:39:00.010-05:00

Once the tallest train station in the world, Michigan Central Station now stands vandalized and isolated in a littered field west of downtown Detroit.

Below is an outstanding segment about Detroit's once grand and thriving train station.

As beautiful as this colossal structure was, it was a victim not only of the automobile's growing popularity in Detroit of all places, but of poor location. The station was built 2 miles west miles of downtown, which turned out to be a death sentence years later, as it's neighborhood grew increasingly desolate and impoverished. The reason for the placement this far from downtown was a hope that the station would be an anchor for prosperity to follow. When the suburbs boomed and downtown's bright spots shrank closer together, Michigan Central Station was left out in the dark.

It is a shame to further neglect a historically significant and once beautiful landmark, although Michigan Central and Buffalo's Central Terminal, the later of which is being included in the HSR discussion, beg the question is it more important that a major city's primary train station is a preserved landmark or a practically located transit hub? Nothing would make me happier than to see the emergence of High Speed Rail catalyze the restoration of these once great stations and spark new development between their front doors and the downtowns they are separated from. However, the Midwest needs high speed trains delivering passengers to the city center where commerce and growth stem from, not on the outskirts where a failed anchor for prosperity quietly lies in ruin. If historic stations cannot be included in practical high speed rail planning, we must regrettably, for the sake of progress, move on without them.

The Infrastructurist did a great piece on demolished stations. Michigan Central is included in it.

High Speed Rail safely and efficiently carrying passengers to and from the larger-than-life stations enjoyed by older generations -- my fingers are crossed!

Holy Toldeo!

2009-08-14T09:47:00.013-05:00

Toldeo's Democratic mayoral candidate, Keith Wilkowski, has the right idea. He knows that Toldeo is ideally positioned to redirect trains coming from Detroit on to Cleveland, Columbus and Fort Wayne and trains from Ohio and Indiana on through Detroit to Ann Arbor or Ontario. The possibilities are beautifully illustrated on this map provided by the Midwest High Speed Rail Assoc.

It is important that planners, legislators and advocates remember to include midsize cities, like Toledo and Fort Wayne, in the discussion. Those cities will serve as vital transfer points throughout the network, thus allowing passengers a more direct trip instead of always having to transfer in Chicago.

Google Transit and Amtrak are finally in love

2009-08-13T14:48:00.013-05:00

"We are pleased to welcome Amtrak to Google Transit," said Jessica Wei, Strategic Partner Development Manager at Google. "This partnership shows Amtrak's commitment to innovating, serving their passengers, and attracting new riders. We're looking forward to continuing to work with Amtrak to add more routes to Google Maps." (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/News_Release_Page&c=am2Copy&cid=1189639706207&ssid=180)

Plans call for all Amtrak routes across the country to eventually be available through Google Transit. The first five routes now available include:

Empire Service (New York - Albany - Buffalo - Niagara Falls)
Ethan Allen Express (New York - Albany - Rutland)
Hiawatha Service (Chicago - Milwaukee)
Pacific Surfliner (San Diego - Los Angeles - Santa Barbara - San Luis Obispo)
San Joaquin (Oakland - Sacramento - Fresno - Bakersfield)

This is a great step for not only Amtrak and rail fans, but for people who appreciate public transit, but typically will not go to great lengths to utilize it. With Google Transit incorporating the most mass transit systems, most commuter rail lines and now Amtrak, it is plausible to use just one website to go from your front door to an address across the country without ever having to spend money on a flight or a taxi.

For anyone unfamiliar with this wonderful and easy to use tool, here is a video of how Google Transit works in New York:

Grand stations NEED great locations

2009-08-12T22:33:00.016-05:00

Second only to the safety and efficiency that rail travel offers passengers is the sense of awe that can humble any one of us when entering the grand station of a major city and looking up at it's vaulted ceiling, while surrounded by massive Corinthian columns. Entering or exiting a city through any portal that astounds you with it's beauty and sheer size is just part of what makes rail travel not only enjoyable, but in many ways magical.

However, as important as large stunning train stations are, the location of them in the middle of our downtowns and connectivity to local mass transit is just as crucial. A beautiful station can be an inspiring beginning or end to any interstate journey or daily commute as long as the traveler takes the train in the first place. Trains are appealing for their ability to deliver you right to the city center of your choice. A city's main train station on the outskirts of town might as well be an airport that leaves you needing yet another form of transportation to get to the heart of the city. Planners and Legislators must keep this in mind when selecting the main station for each city along the Midwest's High Speed route and the people of St. Paul, Minnesota have done just that!

Below is a great video from OnBoard Midwest about utilizing the grandeur and central location of the St. Paul Union Depot and it's connectivity to the Twin Cities' light rail system that will carry travelers right to their metropolitan destination.

Excellent location and an inspiring station. CONGRATS citizens of the Twin Cities!

Other Midwestern cities with beautiful stations in central locations are:
Chicago (Union Station needs connectivity to the CTA and nearby Ogilvie Transportation Center)

Milwaukee and it's beautiful new Milwaukee Intermodal Station (renovated in November 2007) is right along the Menomonee River in downtown and walking distance from Marquette University.

Honorable mention:
Cincinnati (Cincinnati Union Terminal, although now a museum now with active tracks behind it, has one of the most beautiful facades of any station in the country)

Cleveland (the current Amtrak station is not much to look at, but the location is terrific with Cleveland Browns Stadium, the Rock & Roll HOF and the water front all within walking distance)

St. Louis (St. Louis Union Station is a stunning building that is unfortunately now a hotel and shopping mall instead of a train terminal, however I should be grateful that it is still standing and being used)

Sen. Durbin and refurbished Amtrak car

2009-08-12T17:40:00.007-05:00

Thank you Pantagragh.com -- http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_352854fe-878d-11de-a429-001cc4c03286.html

Stimulus side note: Amtrak's Ray Lang, said that the car was refurbished by an Indiana company that rehired 108 employees to help rehab the steel, water and electrical units on this and other railroad cars previously sidelined in storage. An Illinois company made the new seats for the two-deck car.

The car is one of 81 that are being put back in service with the help of the stimulus money, Lang said. The Superliner brought to Normal on Wednesday now is part of the Texas Eagle train, which runs from Chicago to San Antonio, Texas.

Railcar features

A 1981 Superliner that was damaged in a 2005 accident has been fixed up and was on display Wednesday in Normal. The $709,464 refurbishment included:

- Replacing the lower-level floor and rebuilding wheel and suspension assemblies

- Updating inside color scheme (from orange and brown to blue and white) and amenities

- Replacing seating, carpet, cushions, batteries, lamps, door motors, toilets, water heaters and windows

- Modernizing the second-story lounge with outlets for laptop computers; the addition of a recycling bin

SOURCE: Amtrak

St. Louis Cardinals utilize passenger rail. Why not other teams?

2009-08-12T16:31:00.017-05:00

Thank you to NPR for this story and interview -- http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106939004&sc=emaf

On July 24th, the St. Louis Cardinals took three privatized Amtrak cars, from Washington, D.C., where they were playing the Nationals, to Philadelphia for a series against the Phillies.

Professional sports teams taking trains to road games opens up an exciting can of marketing and publicity worms for passenger rail. During the playoffs, or before rivalry games on the road, pro teams could have, for lack of a better word, pep rallies at their city's train station where the media could interview players and coaches, while fans seek autographs and wish their team well on the road. Sure it sounds a little corny, but it has to be better than always leaving to and from some private air strip where only the Travel Secretary knows that you're there, or in the case of the Yankees, Assistant to the Traveling Secretary, George Costanza.

Fans would get to meet the players, passenger trains and stations would receive much need publicity and it would be a new and innovative way for teams to market themselves. With better funding for faster and more reliable trains throughout the Midwest, and the country for that matter, I imagine it would be more enjoyable for professional athletes (on road trips of 500 miles or less), who often times happen to be a little bigger than the rest of us, to travel by rail where they can stretch their legs walking from car to car, recline their chair without hitting the knees behind them and arrive in the middle of the city they're playing in and likely much closer to the hotel and stadium than the airport would be.

Love or hate the 2016 Olympics, they'll leave Chicago and the Midwest in better shape

2009-08-12T14:21:00.018-05:00

Yes, I am not a fan of the slogan "Let Friendship Shine" either, but I am in favor of the lasting impact the 2016 Olympics could have on Chicago and the Midwest as a whole.

In late April of this year, the Chicago Tribune reported on a massive $15.5 billion plan to rejuvenate and expand transportation, parks and commercial space downtown. Besides fixing the glaring problem of no CTA trains directly connecting to the Ogilvie Transportation Center or Union Station, the plan would also provide a train from the United Center to Millennium Park via Monroe St. The real key would be connecting Ogilvie and Union Station, which are only 2 blocks apart, so that passengers could easily transfer between the stations without having to face the fantastic weather that Chicago is notorious for most of the year.

The Olympics and Chicago will make big money, not on parking garages, but on accommodating as many visitors as possible from the surrounding Midwestern states, the rest of the country and the world (Thank you O'Hare) in a clean and walkable city that is not choked with traffic jams, but bustling in, out and all over with fast, expansive and seamlessly integrated public transportation, including one of my favorite proposed projects, the CTA Circle line.

When the Olympics pack up their big top and head back to Copenhagen, Chicago will be left with just that. A fast, expansive and seamlessly integrated public transportation network that serves not only the City of Big Shoulders, but all travelers and freight coming to or passing through Chicago.

I am not ecstatic about the crowds or craziness that the 2016 Olympics could reign down upon Chicago and it's fair citizens, but for tolerating one wild summer, Chicago and the entire region could be rewarded with billions of dollars of lasting infrastructure improvements that must hit an immovable deadline, rather than so many worthy public works projects that keep getting pushed further and further down the line -- I'm am looking at you 2nd Ave Subway.

Support Chicago's bid for the 2016 Games... even if you don't plan on being here for them.

As they say, BACK THE BID (If you live in Chicago, please email your Alderman if nothing else)

The Big Ten and Midwestern Rail

2009-08-12T12:55:00.032-05:00

While a student at Fordham University, which is along the Metro North, New York and Connecticut’s regional commuter line, I was jealous of my classmates who could walk off campus and catch the train home for a long weekend or holiday break as they read, chatted on their cell phone or just caught some shut eye, while whoever would be picking them up from the station was likely still at home, instead of caught in highway traffic. I on the other hand would be sitting at LaGuardia wondering which jumbo pretzel I wanted to try next since my $300+ flight home was just delayed for the 4th time.

The Midwest is home to the 11 universities of the Big Ten conference and the roughly 330,000 undergraduates that matriculate at those schools, not to mention the graduate students, faculty, staff and those people who live near campus. If you happen to be a student, parent or alumni of a Big Ten school, especially someone who is from a Midwestern state other than your respective school, just imagine the possibilities! The comfort and convenience of not driving 5 hours to go pick up your son or daughter for Thanksgiving, when they will need a ride back just a few days later. Going to visit your friend from high school for the weekend who is currently studying at a conference rival without having to drive or get a ride to the airport. Snow, rain or lava (you never know in the Midwest) your train is speeding towards your destination while you are taking a nap, using the restroom or checking your email through Amtrak's wifi, which is coming soon. No need to worry about whether that car on the side of the road is a cop with a radar gun or if your flight is going to be delayed yet AGAIN (See what Secretary LaHood has to say on that topic).

Map of the Big Ten schools across the Midwest: image courtesy of Wikipedia

Map of President Obama’s Vision for HSR in America -- http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/images/rail_map_blog.jpg

When looking at the two images, it is easy to see how close the Big Ten schools will be to the lines on the planned Chicago Hub Network.

You might be thinking that your school is not close to a train station, well that is all the more reason to make sure that large colleges and universities, which attract HUGE numbers of people for education, employment and sporting events are considered when planning the Midwest Rail Network. Princeton University in New Jersey is approximately 3 miles from the busiest passenger line in the country, the Northeast Corridor Line. However students, employees and visitors can easily make the trip from the Princeton Junction Station on the mainline, to the steps of campus via a single coach car, known as “The Dinky”, which shuttles between the university and the prime artery for rail travel in the Northeastern United States. Small shuttle trains like The Dinky could easily link the nearest Amtrak Station to every campus in the Big Ten and numerous other institutions in the Midwest.

If you are a parent who is sick of traffic and long drives to campus, a student who would rather stretch out and relax while affordably traveling home for Winter Break, or a fan who would rather be goofing around with your buddies on your way to game instead of paying $50 to park on some guy's lawn nowhere where near the stadium, then keep this, among many other valid reasons, in mind when talking about the necessity of supporting comprehensive rail improvements throughout the Midwest.

To be totally blunt, fewer intoxicated fans driving home, fewer people stuck in interstate holiday traffic, fewer dollars spent on gas or airfare and fewer hours lost stuck in the car or on the runway during bad weather will benefit not only those traveling to and from a school, but all who fly, drive or ride a train in and out of and around the Midwest.

I apologize for not including many of the other excellent schools in the Midwest, namely Bradley University (Secretary LaHood’s Alma mater), so to illustrate the point of just how many colleges and universities would benefit from safe and dependable trains, please add in any schools that are less than 10 miles from the nearest Amtrak station in the comment section.

Please follow this link to make an impact by simply sending an email: http://www.midwesthsr.org/rollcall/

Great Jim Lehrer story on CREATE, freight rail bottlenecks

2009-04-24T18:47:00.002-05:00

PBS's the News Hour with Jim Lehrer put together a great 10 minute story on freight rail bottlenecks in Chicago and how CREATE can solve lots of them.

You can find it on the Association of American Railroad website here.

We fully support CREATE because passenger trains in the Midwest use freight rail tracks, and when there is freight delay or gridlock, there is passenger delay and gridlock as well.

Governor Rendell: Let's end air travel under 500 miles

2009-04-18T18:27:00.002-05:00

[Thanks to the Infrastructurist for the tip]

The future of transportation is high speed rail of trips under 600 miles that feed into airports, so the airports can handle international trips and the 1500 - 3000 mile trips (which are far more profitable than the little short haul trips for the airlines and thus the airports as well).

Obama understands the future which is why he's put $8B into high speed rail (and our very own Rick Harnish was at the press conference in D.C. on Thursday -- very cool!).

And Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell also understand the future of intercity transportation, and he was bold enough to say that we should end all air travel under 500 miles.

That would be great for airports and airlines.

And one federal law we ought to change, to hasten the integration between high speed rail and air travel, is the prohibition on using federal passenger facility fees on building rail stations at airports. The smart airports will build rail stations so they can keep the profitable long-haul flights and shift the short-haul flights to rail. Unfortunately, federal law prohibits that, and hopefully that will change.

New HNTB Survey - Most Americans Prefer High Speed Rail Versus Other Long Distance Transport When Cost And Time Equal

2009-04-07T12:58:00.011-05:00

[Hat tip SustainableBusiness.com]

The HNTB Corporation, an employee-owned infrastructure firm, has just released their latest national "America THINKS" survey that found "more than half of Americans (54 percent) would choose modern high-speed trains over automobile (33 percent) and air travel (13 percent) if fares and travel time were about the same." There's a lot that can be discussed just in that one conclusion - so comment away - but below are some other key findings.

Americans in the survey said that they placed the highest value on more convenient travel (71%), less expensive fares (69%) and faster trains (55%) with the introduction of high speed rail in their region.

The survey found substantial preferences for high speed rail among those who have already experienced it. Experienced riders had lower preferences for car travel to large, nearby cities (41%) compared to inexperienced riders (69%), and experienced riders had higher expectations of greater productivity while traveling high speed rail on business (51% versus 38%).

Peter Gertler, chair of the HNTB's high-speed rail practice, pointed out the importance of educating the public about high speed rail, including its environmental impact, since the survey found only 29% of Americans understand the environmental impact high-speed trains can have versus other forms of transportation, including other rail transportation,

"High-speed rail will benefit the country in a variety of ways, including improved mobility, job creation, reduced usage of fossil fuel and fewer annual greenhouse gas emissions.... High-speed trains use one-third as much energy as comparable air travel and consume less than one-fifth as much energy as driving."

Springfield press conference with Senator Martin Sandoval on balanced transportation spending

2009-04-06T08:44:00.003-05:00

Senator Martin Sandoval, Chairman of the Transportation Committee, called for a 1:1 ratio of transportation spending between roads and transit in this press conference attended by Dan Johnson-Weinberger (on behalf of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association's Transit Riders' Alliance) and Brian Imus of Illinois PIRG.

WTTW Chicago Discusses High Speed Rail Debate

2009-04-01T11:31:00.005-05:00

[Hat tip Progress Illinois]

I'll say a bit more about this later tonight.

IL Metra Accept Credit Cards? That's (For) The Ticket!

2009-03-26T12:44:00.007-05:00

Monday's Chicago Tribune featured a story, "Metra service: Why Metra is riding slow train to future" with a list of "suggested" improvements to bring Metra into the 21st century. Accepting credit cards for tickets was the second "suggestion."

State Senator Michael Bond from Grayslake thinks that "suggestion" should become law and yesterday became the Chief Sponsor of Senate Bill 577 (SB 577) that would direct Metra to accept credit cards. This is long-overdue. I've waited numerous times in Metra ticket lines, watching potential passengers, incredulous and frustrated, find out that they cannot buy a ticket without cash or a check, and leave. We should make riding Metra easy, not difficult. If you think it's time for Metra to use credit cards then please

Click Here To Take Action

Senator Bond will be giving a press conference on the legislation today - Your Action Now will help increase the chance that Metra will start taking credit cards soon!

Iowa City Rail Supporters Grow, Using Facebook

2009-03-23T14:12:00.006-05:00

(Hat tip Trains4America)

The Iowa City Chamber of Commerce is encouraging supporters of rail to Chicago to add their name to a list of supporters, join the Facebook group "I Support Iowa City Rail to Chicago" and tell friends and legislators that you support passenger rail.

France's SNCF hopes to run high speed rail in US

2009-03-20T10:38:00.005-05:00

Via Google News - the potential of high speed rail isn't lost on the companies who provide it:

France's SNCF hopes to run high speed rail in US

"The United States is ready for a truly high-speed rail system and France's national railway SNCF would be 'very interested' in operating a network, a senior executive said Thursday.

'We strongly believe that in this country, in some of the corridors, the system should logically be profitable,' SNCF International chairman Jean-Pierre Loubinoux said in an interview on the sidelines of a rail conference in Indiana.

While detailed market analysis still needs to be undertaken, Loubinoux said the French experience has shown that high-speed rail operates most effectively between large cities that are around 1,000 to 1,500 kilometers (600 to 930 miles) apart.

These conditions exist in the east coast, California, the midwest, Texas and Florida.

'You could have more than just a corridor. You could have a system,' he told AFP.

'If the possibility (of operating a network) is open we certainly would consider it with great interest.'"

Now That's Frequent - San Fran High Speed Rail Every 5 Minutes!

2009-03-13T08:48:00.003-05:00

"We don't want to design a system that will be obsolete in five years," he said. "We want to build something that will last 50 or 100 years."

Obama Sees Rail Potential - "Railroads Were Always The Pride Of America"

2009-03-12T23:21:00.005-05:00

President Barack Obama speaking Wednesday covered in Thursday's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"'I think there's enormous opportunities here,' he said. 'Railroads were always the pride of America and stitched us together. Now, Japan, China, all of Europe, have high-speed rail systems that put ours to shame. And the potential economic benefits of a high-speed rail link between Chicago and Milwaukee, so that people are avoiding I-94, or the link between Chicago and St. Louis, Detroit, all those Midwestern cities, I think is enormous and is a very real option. Although gas prices are low right now, it becomes a very meaningful option for people who don't want to take off their shoes (for screening), drive to an airport, pay for parking, suffer delays.'

He also said improving freight rail in the region was critical and 'would help with the whole distribution of goods in the region (and) would save businesses a lot of money.'"

IL High-speed Rail Predicted To Get $500 M Stimulus - Develop Corridor Within 5 Years

2009-03-09T13:39:00.014-05:00

Greg Hinz reports that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, at a Union Station appearance with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Amtrak Chair Tom Carper, said Illinois expects to get at least $500 million of the $8 billion stimulus money for high speed rail. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Senator Durbin said that he and Governor Quinn would work to develop a high speed rail corridor between Chicago and St. Louis within five years. You can listen to Governor Quinn's Q&A here (Update: the beginning and towards the end of the prior link deal with rail. This link of Senator Durbin and Governor Quinn contains *Much More Rail Discussion* - listen to it first).

Capital Times Gives Wisconsin High Speed Rail Summary

2009-03-04T13:13:00.004-06:00

The Capital Times article gives monetary breakdowns, scheduling and a bit of background information - worth a read!

NPR Interviews Governor Doyle About Visit To See Spain's High Speed Rail

2009-03-04T09:39:00.006-06:00

In addition to interviewing Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, the story talks about how the Spanish went from terrible commuter rail service and no high speed rail, to an impressive (and expanding) high speed rail service with some obvious implications for the U.S.

Ohio Proposed Budget Includes Developing Passenger Rail Between 4-5 Cities

2009-02-27T09:37:00.007-06:00

[Hat tip Transportation for America]

As part of a two-year, $7.5 billion proposed budget, Ohio plans to continue developing passenger rail service connecting four cities Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati - and possibly including a link to Toledo. Rail advocacy group All Aboard Ohio supports the so-called "3-C" plan and describes it here.

In a related effort, All Aboard Ohio asks Ohioans to call their state legislators TODAY to ask that the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) be given the authority to back up any possible federal stimulus dollar shortfalls with state funding.

(Note that the stimulus provides 100% Federal funding, but All Aboard Ohio encourages calling for the expanded authority because

"there is always a chance Ohio will not be able to get all the federal funding it wants. It needs the back-up ability of state funding. Yet there will likely never be another time when the terms will be so favorable to Ohio.")

Make the call or write your state representative and your state senator today.

Obama Budget Proposes $1 Billion A Year In High Speed Rail State Grants

2009-02-26T12:50:00.005-06:00

Matthew Yglesias reports that the White House Budget Proposal includes a billion a year for a high speed rail grant program. You can see the high speed rail projects that will compete for the grants in a blog post at The Transport Politic.

Chi Tribune Asks Has the Time for Chicago As High-Speed Rail Hub Come?

2009-02-25T11:16:00.006-06:00

[Hat tip Mike Murray at Capitol Fax]

The Tribune asks has 'has the time for Chicago as a high-speed rail hub come?'

Obama Seeks High Speed Rail Presidency - $8 Billion Stimulus Just Start

2009-02-24T10:23:00.005-06:00

Today NPR reports Transportation Secretary (and former Illinois Congressman) Ray LaHood said, "high-speed rail could be a signature issue for Obama. 'I do think this is the transformational issue for this administration when it comes to transportation,' LaHood said. 'I think President Obama would like to be known as the high-speed rail president, and I think he can be.'"

In a regional context the report notes,

"Illinois, the home state of both Obama and LaHood, also will likely get a large chunk of federal funds. Chicago is already a major rail hub for the region and the nation. Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, an advocacy group, says his region could use the money to improve and speed existing service.

'What we're hoping the stimulus money gets used for is upgrading the existing route between Chicago to St. Louis, to get the trip down to three-and-a-half or four hours,' Harnish said. He also hopes to start the engineering work for 'a true high-speed line that would bring that service down to two hours.'

High-speed rail advocates also would like to see service between Chicago and Minneapolis."

Meanwhile the California High Speed Rail Blog quoted LaHood a few days earlier from the National Journal:

"Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today emphasized the administration's long-term commitment to expanding high-speed rail service in 'five or six regions' of the country, not just with the $8 billion provided in the economic stimulus package President Obama signed into law last week, but also 'in subsequent years a very substantial effort.' Meeting with reporters earlier today, LaHood said that for Obama building high-speed rail networks is, 'if not his No. 1 priority, certainly at the top of his list. What the president is saying with the $8 billion is this is the start to help begin high-speed rail projects.' He added that the administration 'is committed to finding the dollars to not only get them started but to finishing them in at least five parts of the country,' although he declined to elaborate on where these projects might ultimately be built."

Eight billion! Barack Obama is the high-speed rail President

2009-02-17T13:36:00.002-06:00

Eight. Billion. Dollars.

The federal government is going to invest eight billion dollars in high speed rail in the next year or two.

This is transformative.

This is how to modernize transportation and energy in this country.

And according to this Politico report, it was President Barack Obama who pushed to make high speed rail a "signature issue" in the stimulus.

He gets it. He gets that electric-powered 220 mph service between major cities instead of oil-powered airplanes in congested airports or oil-powered drives on congested highways is the future -- if we embrace it.

And he'll be reportedly asking for an additional billion every year in every budget for high speed rail.

Elections have consequences. Could you imagine if Mr. anti-Amtrak John McCain was President? It would have been disastrous for our energy and transportation networks!

Nothing could be better for the future of high speed rail than President Obama's exceptionally exciting commitment to implementing it.

Thank you Mr. President. And if you'd like to thank President Obama for his visionary leadership on high speed rail, visit our site at www.MidwestHSR.org