ibebobo Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 From Crain's.... High-speed rail funding seen coming down the tracks By: Paul Merrion Jan. 27, 2010 (Crain’s) — Funding for a nine-state Midwest high-speed rail corridor centered in Chicago is expected to be announced Thursday, part of a renewed emphasis on job creation in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight. President Obama and Vice-president Joseph Biden are expected to announce funding for Florida’s high-speed rail proposal at a town hall meeting in Tampa Thursday, and the Midwest and California proposals are also likely to be funded, according to an Associated Press story. The wire service did not cite sources, but the story was quickly circulated to reporters by the White House press office earlier today. A White House spokesman said he did not have further details on an announcement of funding for the Midwest high-speed rail proposal. A total of 31 states and 13 major corridors are expected to receive funding, according to the AP story. To cut travel time between Chicago and St. Louis by about 100 minutes, Illinois is seeking $4.5 billion of the $8 billion available in stimulus funding for high-speed rail nationwide. The first $1.2 billion would fund a series of long-planned improvements to reduce the 5½ -hour trip by 80 minutes. The remaining $3.2 billion would fund the addition of a second track along the route, allowing passenger trains to bypass slower-moving freight trains and shave another 20 minutes off the trip (Crain’s, Oct. 26, 2009). Funding for the Midwest also could focus on other elements of the proposed network, such as Chicago-Milwaukee or Chicago-Detroit routes. Federal high-speed rail czar Joseph Szabo is scheduled to be in Gary, Ind., for a speech Friday but an Illinois stop is not on his multi-city agenda Thursday, said a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, which is administering the grants. It’s possible that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former GOP congressman from Peoria, wound announce Midwest funding. However, he is scheduled to be in Washington, D.C., with no public events on his agenda, a DOT spokeswoman said. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksone44 Posted January 28, 2010 Report Share Posted January 28, 2010 From Crain's.... High-speed rail funding seen coming down the tracks By: Paul Merrion Jan. 27, 2010 (Crain’s) — Funding for a nine-state Midwest high-speed rail corridor centered in Chicago is expected to be announced Thursday, part of a renewed emphasis on job creation in President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight. President Obama and Vice-president Joseph Biden are expected to announce funding for Florida’s high-speed rail proposal at a town hall meeting in Tampa Thursday, and the Midwest and California proposals are also likely to be funded, according to an Associated Press story. The wire service did not cite sources, but the story was quickly circulated to reporters by the White House press office earlier today. A White House spokesman said he did not have further details on an announcement of funding for the Midwest high-speed rail proposal. A total of 31 states and 13 major corridors are expected to receive funding, according to the AP story. To cut travel time between Chicago and St. Louis by about 100 minutes, Illinois is seeking $4.5 billion of the $8 billion available in stimulus funding for high-speed rail nationwide. The first $1.2 billion would fund a series of long-planned improvements to reduce the 5½ -hour trip by 80 minutes. The remaining $3.2 billion would fund the addition of a second track along the route, allowing passenger trains to bypass slower-moving freight trains and shave another 20 minutes off the trip (Crain’s, Oct. 26, 2009). Funding for the Midwest also could focus on other elements of the proposed network, such as Chicago-Milwaukee or Chicago-Detroit routes. Federal high-speed rail czar Joseph Szabo is scheduled to be in Gary, Ind., for a speech Friday but an Illinois stop is not on his multi-city agenda Thursday, said a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, which is administering the grants. It’s possible that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former GOP congressman from Peoria, wound announce Midwest funding. However, he is scheduled to be in Washington, D.C., with no public events on his agenda, a DOT spokeswoman said. An updated Article...... Illinois to get $1.2 billion in high-speed rail stimulus funds By: Paul Merrion Jan. 27, 2010 (Crain’s) — Illinois scored more than $1.2 billion of the $8 billion in federal high-speed rail stimulus grants to be announced Thursday, enough to cut the Chicago-to-St. Louis travel time by nearly 25% and remove a major South Side bottleneck for Metra, Amtrak and freight railroads. That’s far less than the $4.5 billion in grants that Illinois was seeking, but it will cut 80 minutes off the 284-mile downstate route and complete projects that are critical for future high-speed rail improvements. Details of the Illinois awards include $1.1 billion to improve track and signals and increase train speeds to 110 mph along most of the Chicago-to-St. Louis route, according to congressional staff and others familiar with the plan. The state also will receive $1.25 million to complete an environmental impact study for a second track along the same route, which would reduce conflicts with slow-moving freight trains, and $133 million — the full amount requested — to build the so-called Englewood Flyover on the South Side, a series of elevated commuter tracks over freight lines to prevent significant delays. The Englewood Flyover is a key component of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency project, known as Create. Illinois had sought a total of $4.5 billion for various projects, but it was never likely that one state would scoop up more than half of the available funds. Gov. Pat Quinn said recently in a Crain’s editorial board meeting that he hoped the state would win $1 billion in high-speed rail funds. Chicago also stands to benefit from $800 million slated for Wisconsin if it’s used to upgrade track and bridges connecting Milwaukee to the city, but details were not available. Several Midwest states have requested grants to improve train service to Chicago. President Barack Obama’s commitment to high-speed rail is likely to be a highlight of Wednesday night’s State of the Union speech, and the president and Vice-president Joseph Biden are slated to announce grants covering 31 states on Thursday in Tampa, Fla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 28, 2010 Report Share Posted January 28, 2010 Copying, copying... Anyway, the Tribune article, similar to the one quoted by jacksone44, indicates that most of the money is for high speed rail from Alton to Dwight. Apparently this is for actual construction, but the high speed segment starts some 80 miles from Chicago. Locally, the only thing is the RI/Metra/Amtrak flyover. The article also talked about high speed rail in Wisconsin, to connect with Chicago and Minneapolis. The two combined give me the feeling that while the trains will come into Chicago over the corridors indicated, they won't be high speed within 60 or 80 miles of Chicago. I might have previously mentioned that while the Wisconsin route was slated to be on the Milw-N line, I couldn't see 150 mile and hour trains streaking through grade crossings in Deerfield, Northbook, and Glenview. Apparently they will be down to current speed limits there, or from south of Joliet inward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2010 Report Share Posted January 28, 2010 This is too ambitious! The talk of high speed rail we all know has been ongoing for years and years and we dont seem to be a step closer to it. I remember during the Clinton administration they had talked about it. All weve seen in the past 20 years has been the Amtrak X2000 and the Acela. I wont believe it till I see it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 This is too ambitious! The talk of high speed rail we all know has been ongoing for years and years and we dont seem to be a step closer to it. I remember during the Clinton administration they had talked about it. All weve seen in the past 20 years has been the Amtrak X2000 and the Acela. I wont believe it till I see it! Well remember Presidents can't make it happen by themselves. Congress has to also take some iniative and act to fund the prposals. They are the ones who have the power of the purse. Until they get out the mindset that any infrastructure upgrades is pork, of course it won't happen. Actually not making bills so convoluted that they will actually read them and know what proposals make sense and which ones are infamous 'bridges to nowhere' as we the taxpayers pay them to do should go a long way in doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 Well remember Presidents can't make it happen by themselves. Congress has to also take some iniative and act to fund the prposals. They are the ones who have the power of the purse. Until they get out the mindset that any infrastructure upgrades is pork, of course it won't happen. Actually not making bills so convoluted that they will actually read them and know what proposals make sense and which ones are infamous 'bridges to nowhere' as we the taxpayers pay them to do should go a long way in doing that. This stuff is in the ARRA law, so Congress already acted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksone44 Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 Within this funding is included money for new train sets. Im curious if they will take the direction of Amtrak California with Bilevel Cars or the Cascades with Talgo Cars or mayby something else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 This stuff is in the ARRA law, so Congress already acted. Bravo on the action taken. I was responding to the inference that somehow any President somehow just makes these things happen by snapping his fingers and waving a magic wand. The Congress is needed to act to fund the proposals and get them off the ground, and once started when the time comes they still need to reauthorize funding and not just let the proposals tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 Within this funding is included money for new train sets. Im curious if they will take the direction of Amtrak California with Bilevel Cars or the Cascades with Talgo Cars or mayby something else... One would think that a bilevel would have too much air resistance to be high speed. The other message boards seem to indicate that it will be French (like Acela) or Japanese, and basically those are the only people who have the technology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmadisonwi Posted February 1, 2010 Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Wisconsin has already ordered Talgo (Spain) trainsets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebobo Posted February 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2010 Wisconsin has already ordered Talgo (Spain) trainsets. For which route? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 The talgos are for Madison - Chicago service with eventually extending to MSP. Originally there were 2 sets ordered for Chi - Milwaukee, but with the stimulous funds and Madison extension would expect additional sets to be ordered. Also Washington St. is supposed to order equipment, these will probably be talgo too. In addtion, Oregon has funds budgeted for new equipment, most likely will also get Talgos. I pieced this together from MWHSR, NARP and news reports. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted February 2, 2010 Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 Since west towns mentioned it, here is a link to the press release. From the reference to Hiawatha service, apparently the two trainsets are to replace the 70s era cars coupled to the north engine and south cabbage car already going from Milwaukee to Chicago via the Milw. N. line. There is also a reference to an assembly plant in Wisconsin, which, combined with the Super Steel one in Milwaukee that does the Nippon Sharyo Sumitomo work (Metra and NICTD bilevels) means that Wisconsin got a leg up on manufacturing jobs. One would think that Illinois would try to get back what it lost in Pullman, but apparently was beaten to the punch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudgym29 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 Well, Cecil Adams has a contending opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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