Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Now that Congress has decided to fund rail corridor improvements across the nation, Wisconsin rail lines will likely benefit. According to Dave Zweifel’s “Plain Talk” in the Capitol Times:
“Wisconsin should be near the front of the line for a grant because the state has long been advocating for a Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-Minneapolis passenger rail link.”
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covered Wednesday’s news conference in Madison where Mayor Cieslewicz, ELPC and others released a plan called “Build for America: A Five-Point Plan to Get Our Economy Moving.” The national plan calls for increased funding for rail and public transit, investing in cleaner cars, and better maintenance of our roads and bridges. The Mayor and ELPC were joined by Wisconsin Alliance of Cities, WisPIRG and 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin as part of the national Transportation for America campaign.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
On the heels of the Wall Street bailout and hours before the final presidential debate, community and business leaders joined together at Chicago’s Union Station to call on the next President and Congress to invest in better transportation policies for our changing 21st century needs.
Kevin Brubaker, ELPC’s Deputy Director, called for increasing support for rail and public transportation, saying that “Amtrak ridership in Illinois continues to break records. We’ve shown that if you build it, they will come. We need a forward-thinking transportation policy that reflects citizens’ desire to get around in a green and affordable way.”
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Wisconsin State Journal published an opinion piece by ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner on the benefits of developing a Midwest high speed rail network. Given the steep rise in prices at gas pumps and the cutbacks in airline schedules, consumers are looking for alternatives.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The U.S. House passed HR-6003, the Passenger Rail Investment & Improvement Act of 2008, by a veto-proof majority, 311 to 104. The Senate passed its version of the bill (S-294) last year by a 93 to 6 margin. The bill will now go to a joint House-Senate Conference Committee. If it becomes law, the bill will not only greatly increase funding for Amtrak, but carries the first-ever state matching grant program that can advance the Midwest high-speed rail network and state-generated passenger rail plans like it around the nation.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
In an era of $4/gallon gasoline, expressway congestion at all hours, airport capacity constraints, and a shrinking pool of rural transportation choices, the Midwest needs improved passenger rail service now more than ever.
With ten major cities within a 400-mile radius of Chicago, the Midwest represents the nation’s greatest opportunity to develop high speed rail. A regional high speed rail network would significantly reduce traffic congestion, travel time, air pollution, and urban sprawl. And at 10% of the cost of constructing new highways, a high speed rail network with its hub in Chicago just makes sense.
ELPC is working to develop a Midwest high speed rail network that will be good for the environment, create jobs and spur economic development. The high speed rail network would provide fast, modern, comfortable, and convenient new transportation options and will reduce our reliance on auto and air travel. This “Midwest Metroliner” would use modern new railcars on upgraded existing track and cut train travel times between the major Midwestern cities to be competitive on a door-to-door basis with air travel.
Work has already begun to make high speed rail a reality. Nine Midwestern state Departments of Transportation have embraced this vision and are working to implement it. Over 125 miles of track between Springfield, Illinois and Chicago is currently being upgraded for high speed service. Wisconsin has completed its environmental studies for new high speed service between Madison and Milwaukee. Michigan hopes to reduce travel time between Chicago and Detroit this year.
The Midwest high speed rail network aims to deliver new, modern convenient inter-city transportation options for Midwest travel; new and increased employment opportunities; increased economic development opportunities from pulling together the regional economy; and less pollution from cars and planes. High speed trains are three times as energy efficient as cars and six times as efficient as planes. This is one of the leading “sustainable development” projects in the nation, and ELPC is pleased to be playing a leading role in its design and implementation.
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