High-speed rail isn't about building trains; it's about building communities.
That was the message at a Jan. 15 high-speed rail summit held at Chicago's Mid-America Club, convened by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and sponsored by the Environmental Law & Policy Center. As states anxiously await decisions by the U.S. Department of Transportation on where to award $8 billion in competitive high-speed rail grants, Illinois leaders took a step back to examine the principles behind these investments.
The 200 civic and business leaders in attendance learned that high-speed rail investments can catalyze community redevelopment, promote tourism, better connect a region's economy and build a manufacturing base.
Normal, Ill., Mayor Chris Koos spoke of his town's vision to rebuild its central business district around high-speed trains, connecting citizens and students to Chicago, located 135 miles to the north. The Uptown Normal Renewal Plan includes a multi-modal station, office and residential construction all designed to reduce the need for cars in the urban center. Last year, a new Marriott hotel opened within 100 yards of the Amtrak station.
A panel of manufacturers spoke of their eagerness to build locomotives for high-speed service. But jobs extend well beyond Nippon Sharyo, Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. and National Railway Equipment Co. (NREC) to diverse suppliers. This point was brought home by Steve Goff of Funk Linko, an 85-year old family company that builds steel poles for billboards. In what Goff described as “a deal begun over a backyard fence,” the firm is now building steel frames for NREC's genset locomotives.
"We can rebuild the rail manufacturing industry right here in the United States," observed Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).
Several speakers reminded listeners that because high-speed passenger trains in the Midwest will continue to share track with freight railroads, investments in high-speed rail here will help to ease freight congestion in the hub of America's rail network. The state's plans, developed in coordination with other Midwestern states, call for a hub-and-spoke network of 110 mph trains radiating out from Chicago to most major Midwestern cities.
Federal Railroad Administrator Joe Szabo echoed these themes, pointing out that his agency is less interested in maximum speed than in connectivity. He praised the region's efforts to date. "Certainly no tipping of the hand, but it's quite obvious that the Illinois application, as do many others, have some significant merits."
"If you talk about getting the economy back on track, a great way to do it is rail," concluded Quinn.
Kevin Brubaker
Deputy Director
Environmental Law & Policy Center (www.elpc.org)
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