High-Speed Rail Funds On-Track for Illinois

During his January 27^th State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of a renewed commitment to developing a national high-speed rail network. Those who advocate for such routes in Illinois are enthusiast.

Chicago will be the hub of the Midwest Network, which is to receive $2.62 billion of the federal funds to establish high-speed rail corridors in some U.S. regions. Here are the breakdowns for the Midwest projects:

• $1.1 billion for routes connecting Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City;
• $823 million for a corridor to include Minneapolis/St. Paul-Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago;
• $400 million for projects in Ohio;
• $244 million for a Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago corridor;
• $17 million to reduce congestion on existing routes in Iowa, with additional funds for a planning study.

Specific improvements include an overhaul of track, signal systems and existing stations, and the implementation of positive train control technology.

Investing in the country's infrastructure was a recurring theme of the President's speech. A total of $8 billion was pledged for high-speed rail and those projects are expected to generate thousands of on-site jobs.

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar released a statement praising the Obama Administration for taking this historic step. “Investing in high-speed rail is essential for our country’s future. Not only will high-speed rail provide faster and quicker travel, but it will create American jobs now while building a new industry with hundreds of thousands of long-term, sustainable jobs.”

He added that, “… ensuring that America remains an economic engine with good, “green” American jobs, high-speed rail is also essential so that we can move toward a sustainable, modern transportation system that meets the environmental and energy challenges of this century. 

The Chicago-based Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) commended the Obama Administration for the diverse selection of high speed-rail projects and its national approach to awarding $8 billion in stimulus funding.

“The 13 projects chosen represent critical first steps toward building a modern, national, passenger rail infrastructure and are the first significant passenger rail investments in nearly a century. These projects encompass 31 states. They enhance connectivity through a variety of technologies in the most environmentally responsible mode of regional transportation,” noted Howard Learner, ELPC president.