Mission

In an era of $3.50/gallon gasoline, expressway congestion at all hours, airport capacity constraints, and a shrinking pool of rural transportation choices, the Midwest needs improved passenger rail service now more than ever.

With ten major cities within a 400-mile radius of Chicago, the Midwest represents the nation's greatest opportunity to develop high speed rail. A regional high speed rail network would significantly reduce traffic congestion, travel time, air pollution, and urban sprawl. And at 10% of the cost of constructing new highways, a high speed rail network with its hub in Chicago just makes sense.

 

New Rail Service to Iowa City Possible

April 18, 2008 -- New passenger rail service between Chicago and Iowa City via the Quad Cities is possible within a few years. That's the finding of a new study released by Amtrak and the Iowa Department of Transportation. "Rail service has tremendous advantages in terms of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels...and associated pollution," explained Iowa Governor Chet Culver. ELPC originally called for the study and will be working to with Illinois and Iowa leaders toward its implementation.

 

National Commission Calls for Rail, Transit Funding

January 15, 2008 -- "Our Nation will need to put more emphasis on transit and intercity passenger rail and make them a piority for our country." That's the conclusion announced today by the National Surface Transportation and Revenue Commission, a bi-partisan working group established by Congress. Their report calls for sweeping changes to the nation's transportation policies which ELPC and our colleagues are currently evaluating.

 

ELPC is working with a broad coalition to develop a Midwest high speed rail network that will be good for the environment, create jobs and spur economic development. The high speed rail network would provide fast, modern, comfortable, and convenient new transportation options and will reduce our reliance on auto and air travel. This "Midwest Metroliner" would use modern new railcars on upgraded existing track and cut train travel times between the major Midwestern cities to be competitive on a door-to-door basis with air travel. Read about additional high speed rail benefits.

Work has already begun to make high speed rail a reality. Nine Midwestern state Departments of Transportation have embraced this vision and are working to implement it. Over 125 miles of track between Springfield, Illinois and Chicago is currently being upgraded for high speed service. Wisconsin has completed its environmental studies for new high speed service between Madison and Milwaukee. Michigan hopes to reduce travel time between Chicago and Detroit this year.

The Midwest high speed rail network aims to deliver new, modern convenient inter-city transportation options for Midwest travel; new and increased employment opportunities; increased economic development opportunities from pulling together the regional economy; and less pollution from cars and planes. High speed trains are three times as energy efficient as cars and six times as efficient as planes. This is one of the leading “sustainable development” projects in the nation, and ELPC is pleased to be playing a leading role in its design and implementation.

ELPC’s work has been instrumental in moving high speed rail from idea to reality. Our research proved that high speed rail can be financially self-sufficient once constructed.  We have built a strong and unusual high speed rail coalition of environmental, business and labor leaders and state policy makers. This coalition support has been leveraged into effective advocacy for high speed rail development at the local, state and federal level.