Northwest Indiana Discussion

Tue, 04/14/2009 - 3:54pm — Laura McPhee

Eight Midwestern governors, including Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, have joined together in support of a high-speed rail network that links cities around the region and, they contend, “builds the economy and introduces a new vision for intercity passenger rail.”

In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the group outlined their plans and support for the use of federal recovery money to build the high-speed rail system that could eventually connect all the major Midwestern cities.

"President Obama’s vision of making high-speed rail a part of our nation’s future transportation network holds great promise," Gov. Daniels and the co-signors wrote. "We recognize that a high-speed rail network has the potential to reduce highway and airway congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil."

The major elements of the multi-state passenger rail initiative include:

• “3,000 miles of existing rights of way to connect rural, small urban and major metropolitan areas. The states will work with freight railroads to assess where capacity is needed to provide reliable110-mile-per-hour service.”

• “Operation of a hub-and-spoke passenger rail system that provides service to and through Chicago to locations across the Midwest. All corridors provide service to city-to-city pairs within 500 miles of each other.”

• “Modern train equipment that operates initially at 110 miles per hour. Current passenger rail equipment is outdated and designed for a 20th century train network, not a 21 century network. Next generation train equipment will travel at faster speeds with better acceleration and deceleration, will provide increased comfort and amenities for riders, and will provide travelers with more options than air or auto modes.”

• “Multi-modal connections that will improve the entire transportation system network. The states engaged in the MWRRI understand the importance of intermodalism. The passenger rail network and feeder system will connect riders to their communities, airports, bus stations and highways.”

• “Focus on reliability and on-time performance. Ridership depends on trains that arrive and depart on time. We are familiar with the predictable by-the-minute train service that exists in Europe and Asia. The MWRRI Plan recommends track and signal improvements to achieve the same level of on-time performance.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and mandates high-speed passenger rail, and the Midwestern network would include 3,000 miles of existing rights of way to connect cities with trains capable of at least 110 miles per hour. Chicago, which is bidding to host the 2016 Olympic Games, would serve as the hub, just as it does for freight. The rail network would link large and small metropolitan areas, airports, bus stations and highways.


http://www.nuvo.net/blog/midwest-high-s ... initiative

Why?

So as soon as the taxpayers foot the bill for this idiocy he can sell it to the highest bidder?...

or the ONLY other scenario...which is to watch the billions go down the drain on ''studies'' and ''committees'' and ''junkets'' over the next 5 years only to conclude there no money to build it...

You are hereby assigned as the official watch dog, to insure that waste will is not the final word for this project.

Don't feel like getting off your 'rusty butt' to give your input?

The gub'mint can't even run the trains it has now....

“Duh“, since you don’t believe or know what check and balance means, telling you who the government is would not do any good. Since you’re refusing to perform your civic duty, you are relieved of your duties. Let’s watch Daniel’s to insure he doesn’t make the same errors made while converting BMV.

“You are a hatemonger. You are here to taunt people”. Sounds like a self description based on the labels thrown around and when are fabrications informative?

Again, Big Time Loser, you make absolutely no sense.

Here's the lack of knowlege out of the package

Do us all a favor and stick that back where you found it before someone has another accident! One of you is enough!