Theodore!!

I often hear the question asked: "What do the freight railroads think about passenger rail?" ... or some variation of the question.  Check out this report on the recent testimony of a major freight railroad executive:

 

Matt Rose to Congress: “Develop a realistic vision” 

railwayage.com

 

BNSF Chairman, President, and CEO Matthew K. Rose may be a Class I executive, but he is taking a leadership role in passenger rail development, particularly with how it affects the freight/passenger rail interface. Rose is one of the principals behind the new OneRail coalition, which, placing an emphasis on unity, seeks to advance the interests of the entire rail industry—freight, passenger, and suppliers—as well as those of environmental interests. He also served on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

 

Read more at:

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/708/121/

 

for the full text of Matt Rose' testimony, go to this link:

http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony/TH/Matt_Rose_04_01_09.pdf

Interesting appointments!

 

SENATE PRESIDENT'S APPOINTMENTS

 

·      Ohio Rail Development Commission: Sen. Wilson

·      Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact: Sen. Patton

 

I often held West Shore Corridor Stakeholder meetings in enemy territory for that very reason. We ended up turning most enemies into supporters, or at least into informed sympathetics. Exposure to more information can only help Patton.

 

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact could host a "rail education trip" for all legislators somewhere in the Midwest, such as Milwaukee-Chicago, Springfield to St. Louis, or Chicago-Bloomington and back.

 

 

I suppose the only way to look at this is on the bright side.  Let's keep our fingers crossed...

I know I've asked before, and I'm sure commuter service is being looked at around the big cities, notably Cleveland.  I also know that last time I looked at All Aboard Ohio's webpage, commuter stops were listed, like NE Cleveland, SE Cleve, etc... Has there been any more thought about some, even light commuter service and ideas where station stops may be?

 

One in Cleve stop that should be looked at is Euclid/E. 55 "Midtown" about where that old elevated Pennsy station used to be.  Both intercity and commuter trains would serve the Health Line with quick, direct trips to places like the Clinic or CSU... 

Amtrak's implementation planning work will identify station locations. But I do like the idea of having an intercity rail station in the area of Euclid/55th, in addition to downtown/lakefront. But that may not be viable unless there's at least several daytime trains per day to Pittsburgh.

The wind must have been blowing in a different direction that day, eh Senator?

KJP

______________

 

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/03/31/copy/transport31.ART_ART_03-31-09_A1_D1DDFVO.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

 

STATE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET

New bill backs rail, lets trucks go faster

Tuesday,  March 31, 2009 3:09 AM

By Jim Siegel

 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Truckers can drive faster on Ohio interstates, but no driver has to worry about getting busted for speeding by a camera or getting pulled over just for not wearing a seat belt.

 

And for those who don't want to take long drives, a passenger-rail system linking Ohio's largest cities is taking another step toward reality.

 

........

 

Republicans wanted the full legislature to make that decision. They still ensured themselves a voice in the process by requiring that infrastructure funding for the proposed rail system connecting Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland get a 5-2 vote to pass, with at least two members from each chamber voting for it.

 

"We're very excited about the possibilities of rail," said Sen. Thomas F. Patton, R-Strongsville, noting concerns about unanswered questions over the need for ongoing subsidies. "We just want the ability to have a say in whether we move forward."

 

...........

Forgot about this one, too.....

__________________

 

 

http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/03/24/sns032409rail.html

 

Mayors support rail study

By Samantha Sommer

Staff Writer

 

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

 

Springfield, Ohio — Mayor Warren Copeland enjoyed taking a train from Springfield, Ill., to Chicago when he lived there.

 

"It was a great way to go to Chicago for meetings," he said. "I could relax, do work and I didn't have to worry about driving myself."

 

That's one reason Copeland joined several other Ohio mayors in announcing their support of a plan to study the feasibility of passenger rail service connecting Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

 

 

............

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/42212637.html

 

Ohio faces competition for federal rail money

March 31, 2009

 

Reviving passenger rail has a tortured history in Ohio.

 

In 1982, amid another recession, voters rejected a ballot issue that would have raised the state sales tax 1 percent to build an $8 billion high-speed rail system rivaling the successful systems of Europe and Asia with railcars hitting top speeds of 200 mph.

 

 

First time I have ever heard of this.  Oh the possibilities we have missed out on!

 

The committee stripped out proposals by Strickland to allow for speed cameras in construction zones and to allow law enforcement to pull over unbuckled drivers even if they committed no other violations. The seat-belt change would have earned Ohio $26.7 million in federal money.

 

"If it was a good idea, we would have done it years ago without (federal incentives)," Patton said of seat belts.

 

This is a joke, right? I suppose that Patton also would have (without Federal assistance):

 

built navigational locks and dams on the Ohio River

built flood control dams and reservoirs throughout Ohio's watersheds

built and operated major airports

constructed the Interstate system in Ohio

built schools

electrified rural communities

etc.

 

The sad thing is that statements like these seem to resonate with about 47% of our population (probably the same people who believe that dinosaurs and people coexisted at one time).

 

^ Even more stupid: His statement implies that Ohio has already enacted all possible good ideas. Might as well shut down the General Assembly. If there were any good ideas, they would have done them long ago.

 

The sad thing is that statements like these seem to resonate with about 47% of our population (probably the same people who believe that dinosaurs and people coexisted at one time).

 

 

Or how about by people who are against other people telling them what they can and can't do? 

 

You can't have it both ways.

You mean like the people who tell other people who can and can't get married?

Stay On Topic, lest the board get pruned

exactly!  We have laws against all sorts of things, that someone, somewhere, will find fault with.

Okay.... back on topic, please.

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/press-releases/224

 

FRA Awards Intercity Capital Grant for Planning of Midwest Rail Corridors.

 

Contact: Rob Kulat

Telephone: 202-493-1306

 

Friday, April 03, 2009 () DOT 41-09

 

News Digest

 

 

FRA Awards Intercity Capital Grant for Planning of Midwest Rail Corridors. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded a $297,000 grant to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI) to continue rail corridor planning, which may lead to the development of several high-speed rail corridors. MWRRI is a 3,000-mile system providing improved intercity passenger rail service that serves nine states with a combined population of 60 million people, using Chicago as a regional hub. The MWRRI member states will match the $297,000 grant. The project includes an alternative routes analysis; system cost updates; equipment, train control and operational plans; and the preparation of public outreach materials. Corridors include Chicago-Porter, Chicago-Toledo-Cleveland, Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati, Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale, St. Louis-Jefferson City-Kansas City, Chicago-Quincy/Des Moines-Omaha, and Chicago-Milwaukee-Minneapolis/St. Paul-Green Bay. The grant is made under FRA’s FY 2008 Capital Assistance to States – Intercity Passenger Rail Service Program. This is a separate authority from the grants for high-speed rail under the Recovery Act (ARRA). Guidance for competitive grants under the new authority is still under development.

 

Contact: Rob Kulat (202) 493-6024.

I'd like to thank KJP for his tireless support and work on this project.  Big ups!

Thanks, Seth. I'm just one of many people working on this. Thank Noozer, BuckeyeB and Gildone plus many others who aren't UrbanOhioans.

 

To keep All Aboard Ohio working on passenger rail issues, please contribute by clicking on the "Donate" button at www.allaboardohio.org. Despite being in operation for 35 years, All Aboard Ohio has enough funding to keep up the fight for only six more months. We are a 501©(3) nonprofit -- your contributions may be tax-deductible. All, please help us if you can.

High speed trains overtake planes and autos in survey 

www.railwayage.com

 

A new study commissioned by HNTB, a Kansas City, Mo.-based infrastructure design and engineering firm, has found that given comparable fares and travel time, 54% of Americans would choose modern high speed trains over automobile (33%) and air travel (13%).

 

The survey was conducted at a time when high speed raill has achieved high visibility as a potential, if not actual, travel option. The passage of a $10 billion high speed rail bond measure in California last fall was followed by the set-aside of $8 billion for high speed rail in this year's American Recovery and Investment Act.

 

HNTB said its latest research, the second in series of America Thinks surveys, "found even greater acceptance of high speed rail among the 18% of [respondents] who have experienced such travel here or abroad.

 

An overwhelming majority of high speed train travelers (82%) found it more enjoyable than plane travel, and slightly more than half (51%) said they would be most productive in high speed trains when traveling for business."

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/723/121/

The final Ohio transportation budget bill (Ohio House Bill 2 - http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_HB_2), as adopted by our legislature and signed into law by Governor Strickland on April 1, 2009, includes 3 changes to Ohio law regarding passenger rail.  Here are the details.

________

 

1.  Ohio Revised Code Section 4981.02 (G)

 

"Expenditures by the department of transportation, the Ohio rail development commission, or any other state agency for capital improvements for the development of passenger rail shall be subject to the approval of the controlling board with an affirmative vote of not fewer than five members, including the affirmative vote of a majority of the controlling board members appointed by the president of the senate and a majority of the controlling board members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives. All public funds acquired by the commission shall be used for developing, implementing, and regulating rail service and not for operating rail service unless the general assembly specifically approves the expenditure of funds for operating rail service."

 

COMMENT:

Essentially, this language parrots existing Ohio law:

* The first sentence virtually duplicates existing law for the Ohio Rail Development Commission (OARDC), except that it extends the requirement for a super-majority vote of the state Controlling Board to ODOT (as well as OARDC, as provided in existing law).

* The second sentence is existing law.

 

Bottom line:

* A super-majority vote of the state controlling board will be necessary to expend public dollars (including, presumably, federal stimulus funds) on CAPITAL projects involving passenger rail.

* A simple-majority vote of the full legislature will be necessary to expend public funds on the OPERATION of passenger rail projects.

Taken together, this satisfied the concern of Statehouse Republicans for bipartisan, legislative oversight of passenger rail projects.

FYI:

* (The Controlling Board is comprised of 3 House members; 3 Senate members; and the Governor's budget director, who serves as chair.  At this time, the Controlling Board is controlled 4-3 by the Democrats.)

* The Ohio House is controlled by the Democrats.  The Ohio Senate is controlled by the Republicans.

 

2.  Ohio Revised Code Section 4981.40.

 

"In any overall programmatic environmental impact study or other comprehensive high-speed rail project development study, the department of transportation and the rail development commission shall include all federally designated high-speed rail corridors in Ohio and all passenger rail corridors in the Ohio hub study.

 

The department of transportation and the rail development commission shall work with Amtrak to examine methods to improve existing service between Toledo and Cleveland with a goal of creating optimum service to connect the planned Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Cincinnati service.

 

The department of transportation and the rail development commission shall examine the financial and economic feasibility of developing a passenger rail system between Toledo and Columbus, including necessary characteristics of a viable connection between the cities."

 

COMMENT:

The chair of the House committee (Representative Peter Ujvagi, D-Toledo) insisted on the Toledo language.  He's a good friend and outspoken supporter of passenger rail.

 

3.  Section 503.20 of House Bill 2. PASSENGER RAIL

 

The Ohio Rail Development Commission or the Director of Transportation may apply for federal funds for passenger rail made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

 

COMMENT:

Gives explicit permission to compete for federal stimulus funds.

 

--

Good results! Very similar to a poll by Ohio State University poll from 2001 which found that 59 percent of Ohioans preferred to take a high-speed train for distances of 75-500 miles if similar fares were available with flying, driving or taking the bus.

More Detail:

 

http://www.hntb.com/news/GetNewsRelease.do?co=4&newsid=372

Getting America to Ride the High-Speed Rails

HNTB's America THINKS survey highlights public perspectives on high-speed train travel

 

// FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE //

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (April 7, 2009) - The romance of riding the rails may be returning to America thanks to new federal funding and a public hungry for ways to save time, money, the environment, and add a measure of convenience in their hectic lives.

 

According to a new study commissioned by HNTB Corporation, more than half of Americans (54 percent) would choose modern high-speed trains over automobile (33 percent) and air travel (13 percent) if fares and travel time were about the same.

 

 

<b>Bob Weiler Publicly Derides 3C Corridor Project</b>

By Walker | March 31, 2009 11:51am

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/bobweiler.jpg">

 

We’ve recently been getting daily news updates that the 3C Corridor passenger rail project is slowly moving closer to reality. Not everyone is on board though, and its expected that there’s going to be a few naysayers popping up to make complaints. Some citizens don’t think it’s a smart move to use less than a fraction of a percent of ODOT’s budget on passenger rail because only a fraction of a percent of Ohio’s population will ride it. A very similar complaint made an appearance in the Sunday Dispatch’s Letters to the Editor section (thanks to Juana for emailing me the <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/03/29/Weiler_ART_03-29-09_G4_ARDC5J7.html?sid=101">link</a>). The name attached to it was a Mr. Bob Weiler.

 

Is this the same Bob Weiler who is a fairly well known local developer? Is this the same Bob Weiler who serves on the Board of Trustees at COTA? Is this the same Bob Weiler who last summer publically derided inner-city rail transit in Columbus, which COTA would actually be in charge of operating?

 

Who knows. There’s no title or credentials listed with the Dispatch LTE. So it could be someone other than the guy in the photo above. Who knows.

 

MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/robert-weiler-publicly-derides-3c-corridor-project

Cross-posted from the "What other states are doing" thread. Many rail industry observers expected Florida to apply for up to $2 billion in stimulus funds. Now it looks like they won't be submitting anything. While I feel bad for Florida, this could bode well for Ohio......

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/720/121/

 

Florida HSR leader quits, protesting state's inertia 

 

One of Florida’s leading high speed rail proponents has resigned from the Florida High Speed Rail Authority, citing state indifference to federal HSR funds now available. C.C. “Doc” Dockery (pictured) has submitted his letter of resignation to authority Chairman Lee Chira, expressing displeasure with Florida’s unwillingness to seek any of the $8 billion in federal HSR funding being made available.

 

Chira said that Florida, along with California, are frontrunners to capture much of the federal funding. Industry observers outside the state question such parity between the two states, noting that state Gov. Charlie Crist has declined to endorse any Florida application for such funding, thus continuing the state’s reluctance to commit to HSR under former Gov. Jeb Bush, who terminated the state’s HSR program in 1999 and who tried to force the authority to disband.

 

By contrast, California has committed almost $10 billion in state funds to its estimated $44 billion network, and is likely to receive federal assistance due to strong backing of the project by the state's powerful congressional delegation.

 

In 2000, Dockery spent $3 million of his own funds to place a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot requiring the state to pursue HSR. Voters passed the measure, and the state legislature created the High Speed Rail Authority, with Dockery serving as one of nine members. Gov. Bush, however, put the issue back on a subsequent ballot, and voters approved a measure to remove any obligation to build HSR within the state.

Imagine that... a Bush trying to kill rail.

Don't know if anyone noticed that ODOT has devoted $7M in stimulus funding towards planning etc for intercity rail.

It for beginning the environmental review of the Ohio Hub corridors.

Ghost Tracks, See All Aboard Ohio's press release on this....

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,1414.msg382390.html#msg382390

A response to this inaccurate, reactionary piece is coming shortly....

_______________

 

http://www.marionstar.com/article/20090409/OPINION/904090305/1014/OPINION?GID=Pdl+AGj7Rn9dm8+FEzy5IRtjuSoXzu+5IXrT79JYiG0%3D

 

Ohioans right to be skeptical of rail proposal

April 9, 2009

 

Families across Ohio are feeling the pinch of a tight economy. Jobs are disappearing, many never to return. More and more Ohioans are forced to go without. And experts say it's likely to get worse before it gets better.

 

To weather these difficult times, we remember the principles that guided our parents and grandparents through economic hardship: work hard, spend wisely, and live within your means. These tried-and-true values led America out of the Great Depression, the oil crisis and stock market crash of the 70s, and many other periods of recession throughout American history.

 

...........

I don't know that we should pin all of our transportation hopes for the 21st Century on failed 20th Century modes: air travel, and the automobile and highways.

The only good point made in there, which opponents may continue to push long after this is built, is that service needs to be sufficiently robust and affordable that it gives people a viable option.  I wouldn't put it past opponents in the legislature (like this one) to pass the project then starve it for cash so their predictions of poor service can come true.

Who is going to control these all trains? Not Amtrak, I hope.

Amtrak typically operates the trains, ie: provides the crews, the maintenance and the reservations systems. But many states own the trains, directly oversee the marketing, scheduling and the funding. In the latter case, such as in California, North Carolina or Maine, the trains are typically on-time, the crews and the state-hired volunteer "ambassadors" are more customer friendly, and the services more tightly run.

 

Other routes, such as those in Ohio that have been exclusively operated by Amtrak with no state involvement or where Amtrak doesn't own the tracks and control the traffic flows, are not as well run.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/passenger-rail-is-sure-to-fail-76707.html

 

Passenger rail is sure to fail

Letter to the Editor

 

Re “Case for trains just keeps getting better,” March 16: Passenger rail would be another government-sponsored, sure-to-fail venture. Ask yourself these questions:

 

• Have you ever witnessed a government program that met its budget in dollars and time frame?

 

• If it was a profitable venture, why didn’t railroads continue operating after the 1960s?

 

• Government-backed Amtrak is bankrupt. This year more than $2 billion will be needed to subsidize its operations, with no service improvements.

 

• Have you ever asked anyone who took a trip on Amtrak if they would take another one? The answer is usually no. The nostalgia wears off quickly.

 

• Once a money-losing operation begins, will you want to support it with more of your tax money?

 

• With Ohio’s population growth at virtually zero, where will passengers come from?

 

The article said train stops take no time. I grew up 100 feet from the mainline New York Central line in Versailles and witnessed passenger and freight trains for years. Stops take time.

 

The Democrats in Congress and Ohio are pushing this loser of an idea for a couple of reasons. It would create some short-term and long-term jobs, primarily union. This means more voters for their party.

 

No matter; it will become a sinkhole for more and more tax money for Ohioans.

 

Tom Subler

Versailles

http://www.daytondailynews.com/opinion/passenger-rail-is-sure-to-fail-76707.html

 

Passenger rail is sure to fail

Letter to the Editor

 

 

• With Ohio’s population growth at virtually zero, where will passengers come from?

 

Tom Subler

Versailles

 

Apparently Tom forgot to give any consideration to the 11 million people who ALREADY live in Ohio.

Interesting that such a letter can be written without a shred of fact to support it.  The only "loser" I can see here is Mr. Subler.

Hmm I should see if I can add Tom Subler's name to Wikipedia under curmudgeon and then add some of his quotes.

Gillmor... Subler... the playbook is always the same, isn't it?  These guys have no idea how stale and empty their argument is...

UOers, I moved our discussion on general transportation policy over to:

 

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,14971.0.html

 

Please continue with the 3-C Corridor discussion here.

Recent web-only letter to the ditor in the Columbus Dispatch:

http://dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2009/04/14/webletters.html?sid=101

 

Rail travel

 

This letter is in response to concerns about rail travel raised by Mike Keller (Tuesday, March 31). Mr. Keller has a valid point that rail service is limited. But at the same time, he complains about rail's need for taxpayer subsidies. Mr. Keller forgets the massive taxpayer subsidies that make auto transport possible. (Maybe Mr. Keller and his motoring-only friends would enjoy paying their full share of the cost of highway maintenance through user fees and tolls.) In fact, public officials' insistence that passenger rail "pay its own way" while those same public officials gave auto transport preferential, subsidized treatment, is the primary reason rail service is so limited.

 

According to James Howard Kunstler in The Geography of Nowhere, the United States was not automatically destined to become an auto-only transportation network. The electrified rail car or trolley was invented at about the same time as the automobile. Electric railways became a popular means of transport in our cities. It's easy to see why: they were inexpensive, convenient, clean, and efficient. But public officials, catering to the auto and road construction industries, sunk all our transportation subsidies into roads and highways. The privately operated rail systems were given no help; in some cities, they weren't even allowed to raise fares to cover expenses. This favoritism toward auto transport has resulted in our sprawling, overdeveloped, auto-dependent suburbs; our dependence on imported petroleum; air pollution and carbon emissions; and our currently pathetic passenger rail system, which, as Kunstler wryly remarks, the Bulgarians would be ashamed of.

 

We need to recognize that rail transit is far more efficient and far less costly than auto transport. Rail lines can carry far more passengers and cost far less to maintain than highways. Rail uses far less energy per passenger (and gasoline prices aren't going to remain low forever). Autos, on the other hand, are very expensive to own and maintain; therefore, auto dependence hurts the poor disproportionately. Highway maintenance is extremely costly.

 

America made its most foolish transportation decision ever when we gave all our transportation subsidies to benefit cars and simultaneously allowed the rail lines to be torn up or left to rust in place. True, it will be very costly to restore a comprehensive rail system that can take us where we need to go when we need to go. But such a system is possible-it currently exists in parts of Europe and Japan, for example.

 

Restoring passenger rail to link Columbus to other Ohio cities is only a small start, but it is a start, and we certainly need to start. Restoring and improving our passenger rail system is the smartest transportation investment we can make. Continuing auto dependency at the expense of other options would be a disaster. More taxpayer subsidy for highways, suburban sprawl, and car dependency, without corresponding subsidy to rail improvement? Not on my dime!

 

Don Plummer, Reynoldsburg

 

From the FRA this morning...

 

http://www.fra.dot.gov/us/press-releases/226

 

President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary LaHood Call for U.S. High Speed Passenger Trains

 

Contact: Jill Zuckman

Telephone: (202) 366-4570

 

Thursday, April 16, 2009 (Washington, DC)

 

Vision for a New Era in Rail Entails Clean, Energy-Efficient Option for Travelers

 

President Barack Obama, along with Vice President Biden and Secretary LaHood, announced a new U.S. push today to transform travel in America, creating high speed rail lines from city to city, reducing dependence on cars and planes and spurring economic development.

 

The President released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speed rail in America. The plan identifies $8 billion provided in the ARRA and $1 billion a year for five years in the federal budget as a down-payment to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future. The strategic plan will be followed by detailed guidance for state and local applicants. By late summer, the Federal Railroad Administration will begin awarding the first round of grants.

 

Additional funding for long-term planning and development is expected from legislation authorizing federal surface transportation programs.

 

The report formalizes the identification of ten high speed rail corridors as potential recipients of federal funding. Those lines are: California, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Gulf Coast, Chicago Hub Network, Florida, Southeast, Keystone, Empire and Northern New England. Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor from Washington to Boston to compete for funds to improve the nation’s only existing high-speed rail service.

 

With a boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Obama administration launched a competitive process to drive local communities to develop their high speed rail potential. The President, Vice President and Secretary of Transportation are urging states and local communities to put together plans for a network of 100 mile to 600 mile corridors, which will compete for the federal dollars. The merit-driven process will result in federal grants as soon as late summer 2009.

 

-- (more) --

 

President Obama’s vision for high speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.

 

“My high-speed rail proposal will lead to innovations that change the way we travel in America. We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come,” said President Obama. “A major new high-speed rail line will generate many thousands of construction jobs over several years, as well as permanent jobs for rail employees and increased economic activity in the destinations these trains serve. High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways.”

 

“Today, we see clearly how Recovery Act funds and the Department of Transportation are building the platform for a brighter economic future - they’re creating jobs and making life better for communities everywhere,” said Vice President Biden. “Everyone knows railways are the best way to connect communities to each other, and as a daily rail commuter for over 35 years, this announcement is near and dear to my heart. Investing in a high-speed rail system will lower our dependence on foreign oil and the bill for a tank of gas; loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways; and significantly reduce the damage we do to our planet.”

 

“President Obama's vision of robust, high-speed rail service offers Americans the kind of travel options that throughout our history have contributed to economic growth and enhanced quality of life,” said Secretary LaHood. “We simply can't build the economy of the future on the transportation networks of the past.”

The plan identifies two types of projects for funding. One would create new corridors for world-class high speed rail like the kind found in Europe and Japan. Another would involve making train service along existing rail lines incrementally faster.

 

Under the plan, high-speed rail development will advance along three funding tracks:

 

• Individual Projects. Providing grants to complete individual projects that are “ready to go” with completed environmental and preliminary engineering work – with an emphasis on near term job creation. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction of or improvements to infrastructure, facilities and equipment.

 

• Corridor programs. Developing entire phases or geographic sections of high-speed rail corridors that have completed corridor plans, environmental documentation and have a prioritized list of projects to help meet the corridor objectives.

 

• Planning. Entering into cooperative agreements for planning activities (including development of corridor plans and State Rail Plans) using non-American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriations funds. This third approach is intended to help establish a structured mechanism and funding stream for future corridor development activities.

 

###

A Vision for High-Speed Rail in America

Highlights of Strategic Plan

April 16, 2009

 

This plan outlines the President’s vision to build a network of high-speed rail corridors across America. It is the first high-speed rail requirement under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 0f 2009 (ARRA).

 

o VISION—Proposal is to transform the nation’s transportation system, by rebuilding existing rail infrastructure while launching new high-speed passenger rail services in 100-600 mile corridors that connect U.S. communities. Similar to how interstate highways and U.S. aviation system were developed in 20th century: partnership between public sector and private industry, including strong Federal leadership that provided a national vision.

 

o OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE TO STAND UP THIS NEW PROGRAM—Strategic rail plan issued just 58 days after passage of ARRA, before the Congressional deadline. Application procedures expected to be published also before Congressional deadline—this spring. First round grant awards expected to be announced before the end of this summer, up to three years ahead of the schedule required by law.

 

o COMMITMENT TO HIGH-SPEED RAIL—Unprecedented $8 billion investment in high-speed rail: $8 billion in ARRA considered a down payment on a national network of corridors, along with $1 billion per year for at least 5 years (proposed in FY 2010 budget). Completion of vision will require long-term commitment from both the Federal Government and States.

 

oBENEFITS OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL —Promotes economic expansion (including new manufacturing jobs), creates new choices for travelers in addition to flying or driving, reduces national dependence on oil, and fosters urban and rural community development

 

o HIGH-SPEED RAIL IS GREEN— Today’s intercity passenger rail service consumes one-third less energy per passenger-mile than cars. It is estimated that if we built high speed rail lines on all federally-designated corridors (on map), it could result in an annual reduction of 6 billion pounds of CO2.

 

o TRANSPARENT APPROACH—projects selected for funding based on merit/benefits of investment.

 

• First round of applications will focus on projects that can be completed quickly and yield measurable, near-term job creation and other public benefits.

 

• Next round to include proposals for comprehensive high-speed programs covering entire corridors or sections of corridors.

 

• Additional funds will be available for planning to help jump-start corridors not yet ready for construction.

 

o Ten major corridors are being identified for potential high-speed rail projects:

• California Corridor (Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego)

• Pacific Northwest Corridor (Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver BC)

• South Central Corridor (Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Little Rock)

• Gulf Coast Corridor (Houston, New Orleans, , Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta)

• Chicago Hub Network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville,)

• Florida Corridor( (Orlando, Tampa, Miami)

• Southeast Corridor ((Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, , Savannah, Jacksonville)

• Keystone Corridor ((Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh)

• Empire Corridor ((New York City, Albany, Buffalo)

• Northern New England Corridor ((Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven, Albany)

 

Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor (Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, New Haven, Providence, Boston) to compete for funds for improvements to the nation’s only existing high-speed rail service, and for establishment and upgrades to passenger rail services in other parts of the country.

 

o OUTREACH—Administration will take a collaborative approach to formulate program; will work with stakeholders to gather feedback on strategic plan and help shape the program.

 

 

I'm so excited about this. It's about time. I wish it wasn't all coming out of debt, but I'm ecstatic we're finally making the investment instead of making excuse after excuse of why it should get put off. Very, very cool.

Most capital improvements, be they by governments, corporations or citizens, are funded by debt. The debt is typically retired by the wealth created by the investment. So will it be for high-speed rail.

And I understand that, I guess. There's just a LOT of it (debt, I mean)!

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-obama-rail,0,4615436.story

 

Obama pushes for better rail system in US, calls it a key to solving energy dependency

NATASHA METZLER | Associated Press Writer

9:34 AM EDT, April 16, 2009

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama called Thursday for the country to move swiftly to a system of high-speed rail travel, saying it will relieve congestion, help clean the air and save on energy.

 

Appearing with Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Obama said the country cannot afford not to invest in a major upgrade to rail travel. He said he understands it necessarily will be "a long-term project" but said the time to start is now.

 

.........

Pres. Obama Press Briefing on High-Speed Rail

 

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/watch.aspx?ProgramId=HP-A-41630

 

Pres. Obama held a press briefing on high-speed rail’s affect on transportation, the economy and our dependence on foreign oil. He was joined by Vice Pres. Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

This is fantastic but it seems like it will be important to connect the key lines with something to make it work. I'm thinking most of connecting Chicago to the Empire, Keystone, and South Central. I'd like to see a more direct connection to the southeast system, but the Keystone would probably have to be the first connection.

This is excellent news.

This is fantastic but it seems like it will be important to connect the key lines with something to make it work. I'm thinking most of connecting Chicago to the Empire, Keystone, and South Central. I'd like to see a more direct connection to the southeast system, but the Keystone would probably have to be the first connection.

 

One thing that is important about the Ohio Hub Project is that it fills in the missing links. Another significant feature is that the viable distances for HSR as defined by the Obama Administration is 600 miles. That would include Pittsburgh to St. Louis, Cleveland to Memphis, Chicago to Oklahoma City, etc. I'm not saying that these routes are viable, but when you look at the way that population centers are clustered in the Midwest, 600 miles from anyplace encompasses a very large segment of the population.

 

It should also be noted that Eisenhower did not envision the Interstate as a viable means of personal transcontinental transportation. Rather, he saw it as a network of  intercity connections. He was also opposed to funding the construction of urban (commuter) highways as part of the Interstate System as he felt that that the Interstate's purpose was to improve transportation between not within cities.

 

In dollars adjusted for today, the total cost of the Interstate, alone, was over $450 billiion or about $10 million/mile.

 

From the FRA this morning...

 

• Chicago Hub Network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville,)

 

 

What's interesting is that Dayton is plotted on the map that was released today, but was left off of the above list that the FRA released. . .anyone know why??