ELPC hosts Briefing on High-Speed Rail at National Press Club
Howard Learner
ELPC convened a panel of experts at the National Press Club on February 4, 2010 to review the economic, environmental and regional ramifications of the Obama Administration’s high-speed rail stimulus awards. “The $8 billion awarded by the Obama Administration is the first step,” said ELPC President Howard Learner, who moderated the Press Club event. “It’s the beginning of a restructuring of the transportation system for the 21st Century.”
The panelists included:
Anne Canby, President, OneRail Coalition
Arthur Guzzetti, Vice President for Policy, American Public Transportation Association
John Horsley, Executive Director, American Assoc. of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Joseph McHugh, VP Government Affairs/Communications, Amtrak
John Risch, Alternate National Legislative Director, United Transportation Union
Listen to the Briefing
Click here to listen to audio of the press briefing, or the question-and-answer session.
Click here to view photos from the event
Bringing High-Speed Rail to the Midwest
The Environment Law & Policy Center has worked throughout its 15-year history to develop and promote a Midwest high-speed rail network that would link Chicago with other Midwestern cities through safe, convenient and comfortable 110-mph train service. Linking Minneapolis, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and St. Louis with Chicago in a hub-and-spoke network, high-speed rail will improve mobility, 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 downtown into our central cities.
ELPC’s vision of modern, fast high-speed passenger rail service that links Midwest cities is now rapidly moving forward. After decades of planning and building support, the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network took a huge leap this year as the President and Congress approved $14 billion for high-speed rail development in the US. The work of ELPC and our Midwest colleagues laid much of the groundwork necessary for the Midwest network to move forward today.
Midwest Governors High-Speed Rail Summit
On July 27th, a group of Midwest governors and Mayor Daley met in Chicago to coordinate efforts to bring a High-Speed Rail Network to the Midwest. In total, eight governors and Mayor Daley signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in which they committed to combine regional and state planning and development work, prioritize corridor build-outs, and coordinate applications for federal stimulus funding.
The meeting in Chicago brought together five of the governors, Senator Durbin, Mayor Daley and other key stakeholders for a one-day Midwest High-Speed Rail Summit of planning discussions and additional presentations. ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner presented to the group on the role of advocates in supporting and helping to advance the Midwest proposal. Read Howard’s presentation at Notes from ELPC’s President.
Send a letter thanking your Midwest Governor and President Obama for leading the push to make high-speed rail development a reality!
Read about the benefits of high speed rail.
View ELPC’s map of the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network.
Choosing Mass Transit, Minimizing Road Growth
As Midwestern communities continue to grow, public officials propose new roads to alleviate increased traffic congestion. Unfortunately, studies have shown that building new roads increases rather than decreases the amount of traffic by allowing more commuters to choose driving over mass transit and by increasing urban sprawl.
ELPC is working to promote the availability of mass transit options, encourage the repair of existing roads, and prevent the construction of unnecessary roads which inevitably results in a diminished quality of life for residents.
