Midwest High-Speed Rail Development: On the Fast Track

Howard Learner

Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center, www.elpc.org
Posted: August 31, 2009 12:12 PM

Midwest High-Speed Rail Development: On the Fast Track



The world has changed. Just a few years ago, many people thought that high-speed rail development here was just a dream. Now, it's moving to reality. President Obama has made high-speed rail development his #1 national transportation priority fifty years after President Eisenhower advanced the build-out of the nation's interstate highway system.

On July 27th, eight Midwest Governors led by Governor Quinn, and Chicago Mayor Daley, joined together in signing a Memorandum of Understanding, committing to combine regional and state planning and development work, prioritize corridor buildouts, and coordinate applications for federal funding. Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Lugar (R-IN) and Congressmen Oberstar (D-MN) and Petri (R-WI) have formed a new bipartisan Midwest Congressional High-Speed Rail Caucus.

This structural transformation of our transportation system will improve mobility with a new modern, fast, comfortable and convenient transportation option for everyone. It will create jobs and spur economic growth by pulling together the regional economy. It will protect our environment through less pollution, reducing congestion, and counteracting sprawl by pulling jobs, people and businesses into downtown areas.

There is broad national support for high-speed rail development. Forty states have proposed 278 projects seeking more than $100 billion in federal funding. In addition to the $8 billion in federal economic stimulus funding approved earlier this year, the House has appropriated $4 billion more for FY 2010 and has proposed $50 billion in the federal transportation reauthorization legislation.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-learner/midwest-high-speed-rail-d_b_272094.html