High-Speed Rail Funding Begins a Transformation of America’s Transportation System
Friday, January 29, 2010
On January 28, 2010 President Obama announced $8 billion of federal investment in high-speed rail corridors across our nation. Major grants were awarded rail corridors spanning from the Pacific Northwest and California, to the Midwest and Florida. The biggest winner is the Midwest High-Speed Rail network centered in Chicago, which will receive $2.62 billion. The awards were made under the economic stimulus legislation approved by Congress last year and will generate thousands of jobs.
More importantly, they are the first installment in a major effort to transform and revitalize our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
High-speed rail will create a modern, fast, comfortable and convenient travel option that reduces pollution, counteracts sprawl and brings people into the hearts of America’s cities. As ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner told the Christian Science Monitor “It’s a very important beginning…a giant step forward in the transformation of our nation’s transportation system.”
ELPC has worked to promote high speed rail since the organization began 15 years ago. Howard Learner joined Senator Dick Durbin, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley at a press conference celebrating Illinois’ rail funding. You can listen to the press conference at Chicago Public Radio’s website.
Read ELPC’s statement about funding for high-speed rail
Read Coverage in the Kansas City Star and Crain’s Cleveland
