Durbin Asks DOT to Send Unused Federal Rail Money to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, asking him to consider the Chicago Hub Network if he chooses to redistribute the high speed rail funding that the Governor of Florida rejected earlier today.
Durbin wrote: “Almost one year ago, the entire Illinois Congressional delegation wrote to you communicating our belief that Illinois provides the best opportunity to invest in high speed rail. Since then, the Department of Transportation has awarded over $1.4 billion in high speed rail funding to Illinois, including funding for the CREATE project, new rail service from Chicago to the Quad Cities and implementing 110 mph service on the Chicago to St. Louis line. Workers are currently engaged in these projects, but more can be done. Illinois is ready and willing to put rail dollars to work if other states are not.”
Text of the letter appears below:
February 16, 2011
The Hon. Ray LaHood
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Secretary LaHood:
Thank you for your leadership on advancing high speed rail in the United States. As you know, the Governor of Florida turned down his state’s federal funding for high speed rail projects. I, like you, am disappointed the Governor of Florida does not believe a modern and balanced transportation network should be a priority.
However, this decision should not deter further progress on building the Midwest High Speed Rail Network. In fact, the funding dedicated to Florida can accelerate completing other segments of the Chicago Hub High Speed Network. Midwest states have been planning the Midwest High Speed Rail Network for over fourteen years. High speed rail corridors from Chicago to St. Louis, Detroit, Rockford, the Quad Cities and Peoria are ripe for investment if Florida does not want to move forward with its own corridors.
I encourage you to dedicate any funding made available by the Florida Governor’s decision to the Chicago Hub Network. The rail corridors in the Midwest, and Illinois in particular, provide the best opportunity to develop a regionally integrated and nationally significant high speed rail system. Federal Railroad Administration studies have shown every dollar spent on the Midwest high speed rail network will generate a $1.70 return on investment.
Almost one year ago, the entire Illinois Congressional delegation wrote to you communicating our belief that Illinois provides the best opportunity to invest in high speed rail. Since then, the Department of Transportation has awarded over $1.4 billion in high speed rail funding to Illinois, including funding for the CREATE project, new rail service from Chicago to the Quad Cities and implementing 110 mph service on the Chicago to St. Louis line. Workers are currently engaged in these projects, but more can be done. Illinois is ready and willing to put rail dollars to work if other states are not.
Thank you for your attention to this request. As always, I stand ready to assist you in developing a world-class intercity passenger rail system.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
U.S. Senator