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CONTACT: US PIRG John Krieger, Federal Transportation Policy Analyst U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S PIRG) JKrieger@pirg.org (202) 546-9707 x.333 Tweeting @TransitPIRG |
High-Speed Rail Breaks Ground in Illinois
ALTON, Ill. - September 17 - Today, Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG) state director Brian Imus joined Governor Pat Quinn, and other state and national officials, including Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Joseph C. Szabo, at an event marking the first high-speed rail project to begin significant construction under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Improvements on the route from Chicago to St. Louis will allow passenger-rail service to operate at speeds of up to 110 mph, significantly reducing travel times between the cities.
Excerpt from the statement of Illinois PIRG state director Brian Imus, delivered at the event:
“In building a 21st century economy, Illinois is hampered by an outdated transportation system. We’ve got congested airports and crammed highways that hinder travel around the Midwest, and our transportation system is overly reliant on oil, which leaves us vulnerable to unpredictable gas prices and pollution.
High-speed rail is a part of the solution. It will boost our economy and create jobs. It will modernize our transportation system, while helping to solve our nation’s oil dependency, worsening congestion and pollution. High-speed rail will get us moving in the right direction.”
2 Comments so far
Show AllI'm all for high speed rail, but of all the places to invest in a high speed rail line, I don't think the 300 mile stretch between St. Louis and Chicago is a good choice. It is mostly farmland between the two cities with just two moderately sized towns in between (Springfield and Bloomington). Wouldn't it be better to invest in a line that has would touch more population centers? Just exactly who are the typical people that are going to be using this line on a daily basis? I suspect political connections got this project pushed forward.
If this going to be a success they should be pushing for 170mph at least.
That said to your point.
The problem with adding "stops along the way" is it would add considerably to travel time as the train slows and stops to let passengers on and off. It my feeling a 300 mile distance between major centers and thus the start and terminus is almost the ideal distance. It not so close that time saved marginal over other forms and it not so far that aircraft traffic is selected instead.
It my thinking that the people in towns closer to Chicago can commute to Chicago via other means and Vice versa with those going to St Louis. If this train can then go non stop at 200 MPH from Chicago to St louis you have a two hour trip from one downtown to another.
Now the obvious question then becomes How much traffic IS there between St Loius and Chicago on a daily basis including those going by motorcar aircraft and train? Will the "Fare" for taking the train be based upon turning a profit thus becoming too high for poorer people and catering to the well heeled?
It my feeling the "costs" should be subsidized so it accessible to all.
The next question then becomes is there a NEED for this travel to occur on a daily basis ? Is the net benefit to the society and the enviroment then worth the investment?
Having none of that data it hard to draw a conclusion.