Durbin, Kirk, Illinois Delegations: High Speed Rail Funding Will Have Greatest Impact in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in expressing support for Illinois’ application for the federal funding for high speed rail projects that was rejected by the Governor of Florida. In their letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, the members stressed the importance of the Chicago to St. Louis route as the backbone of the Midwest passenger rail system.
“We believe Illinois offers the greatest opportunity for your Department to enhance mobility, reduce reliance on foreign oil, lessen congestion and provide steady employment in a region hard hit by job loss,” wrote the members. “Illinois has spearheaded a regional effort in the Midwest to build an integrated high speed rail network. These Midwest states have already completed careful planning and made significant investments to modernize our existing passenger rail system. The Midwest rail system, with Chicago as its hub, could provide 3,000 miles of high speed rail service and serve 90 percent of the 60.3 million people living in its nine-state region. A significant federal investment into this region will create a rail system that could carry nearly as much traffic as regional air service.”
Members signing on to today’s letter include: Durbin, Kirk, Representatives Jerry Costello (D-IL), Don Manzullo (R-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL).
One year ago, the entire Illinois Congressional delegation wrote to LaHood to communicate their 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.
[Text of the letter below]
April 20, 2011
The Honorable Ray LaHood
Secretary
Department of Transportation
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. However, this funding has the potential to advance rail projects in other states, especially in Illinois.
We believe high speed rail funding will have the greatest impact in Illinois, home to the nation’s largest rail system. As you consider states’ applications for funding, we encourage you to make a significant investment in Illinois during this round of high speed rail awards. We recognize there is a strong demand for new and expanded service for intercity high speed passenger rail throughout the country, but we believe the rail corridors in Illinois provide the best opportunity to develop a regionally integrated, nationally significant high speed rail system.
Illinois has spearheaded a regional effort in the Midwest to build an integrated high speed rail network. These Midwest states have already completed careful planning and made significant investments to modernize our existing passenger rail system. The Midwest rail system, with Chicago as its hub, could provide 3,000 miles of high speed rail service and serve 90 percent of the 60.3 million people living in its nine-state region. A significant federal investment into this region will create a rail system that could carry nearly as much traffic as regional air service.
The core of the Midwest system lies in Illinois, with the Chicago to St. Louis route as the high-speed backbone of the network. New regional routes to the Quad Cities and Rockford will feed into the high speed routes originating in Chicago and terminating in Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis and Madison/Minneapolis.
The Midwest also offers an opportunity for the federal government to provide both short-term economic stimulus and a sustained source of economic growth in the region. Federal Railroad Administration studies show the highest level of economic benefit associated with rail investment anywhere in the U.S. outside of the Northeast Corridor is in the Midwest. A study completed by the Midwest states reinforced the Administration’s findings, showing $1.70 return on every dollar invested in Midwest High Speed Rail.
We believe Illinois offers the greatest opportunity for your Department to enhance mobility, reduce reliance on foreign oil, lessen congestion and provide steady employment in a region hard hit by job loss.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. We stand ready to assist you in developing a world-class intercity passenger rail system.
Sincerely,