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Blog
Supporting the proposed high-speed rail line project connecting Saint Paul to Chicago.
Celebrating the Legacy and Future of Rail
May 3rd, 2010It’s no secret that On Board Midwest strongly supports the effort to bring high-speed rail service to Minnesota along the Mississippi River route. The route provides a real opportunity to create jobs and new investments that benefit the entire region. The existing rail corridor already supports Amtrak and freight rail. Upgrading this corridor for high-speed passenger service will build on these existing services, and in the process make the lines that are already there better.
Rail and transit are important to our region. It plays a big role in Minnesota’s economy and has helped define our history. At a time when every job and economic advantage matters, expanding rail transit is even more important. That’s why this week On Board Midwest will be sharing information with you about rail and its connection to our region.
On Saturday, May 8, cities around the country, including Saint Paul, will celebrate the legacy and future of rail during the third annual National Train Day. (May 8 marks the 141st anniversary of the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.)
This is an exciting time for Minnesotans because we are working together to make a better future for ourselves through rail.
Building on Minnesota’s railroad history
Since Minnesota’s first train took to the tracks in 1862 railroads have been a key part of the state’s economy and livelihood. Not only did the railroads built during the late 1800s bring settlers to Minnesota, they also helped spur economic development by transporting lumber, flour, crops and more to other areas of the state and country that needed these supplies.
Passenger trains arrive at the Union Depot in 1967.
Minnesota’s economy is still vitally tied to rail.
• Minnesota has 4,440 miles of railroad tracks (8th in the nation).
• 4,319 people are employed in the state’s railroad industry (13th in the nation).
Understanding the impressive history of rail’s impact on Minnesota is why so many people are working so hard today to repeat the story. The chance to bring new rail transit to our region is an opportunity we can’t miss.
Elected officials and business leaders from around the state understand that high-speed rail is our chance to improve the state’s existing railroads and strengthen our connection between the Twin Cities and other Midwestern cities. Experts estimate that these projects will provide approximately 1,600 permanent jobs and $2.3 billion in economic benefit.
When you realize how many of Minnesota’s existing jobs are already connected to rail transit, the chance to bring hundreds more to our communities becomes even more important.
Click here for more information about the importance of Minnesota’s railroads.
Federal railway head aims to link Midwest via rail
April 19th, 2010As work continues on the Union Depot and the Mississippi River Route, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railway Administration, has been meeting with groups across the Midwest that are working on different projects.
At these meetings, Szabo touts the federal government’s commitment to improving the country’s railroad system. “This is transformation time at the Federal Railway Administration. It’s the first time ever we’ve had a rail plan that will implement safety, green technology, and high-speed rail,” he said to a group of Chicago business leaders and elected officials.
At a meeting in Milwaukee, Szabo also mentioned that a high-speed link between Milwaukee and the Twin Cities is a long-term goal for the federal government. “This is a market that has to be served. It has tremendous potential,” he said.
These meetings show that Szabo and the federal government are prepared to help us make high-speed rail to the Twin Cities a reality.
GreenSense radio to feature high-speed rail experts
April 9th, 2010The Chicago-based GreenSense radio show will discuss the proposed United States high-speed rail network on Sunday, April 11, from 1-2 p.m. High-speed rail is an environmental initiative that would cut down on automobile traffic between cities. The high-speed rail network would be similar to the European rail system which is widely used.
Guests on the show include Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High-Speed Rail Association; Bob Johnston, a reporter for Trains Magazine, and Marshall Brain, the founder of the technology Web site, HowStuffWorks.com.
The show airs on WCPT 820 AM and 92.5, 92.7 and 99.9 FM. It will also be available online and by podcast on Monday, April 12.
Minnesota and Wisconsin supporters meet at “historic” high-speed rail summit
March 22nd, 2010More than 100 supporters of high-speed rail that follows the Mississippi River Route gathered in La Crosse on Thursday to share information about the project and learn more about how Minnesota and Wisconsin can work together to advocate for the route.
![Karri Plowman, [TITLE], discusses On Board Midwest's role advocating for high-speed rail along the River Route.](http://www.onboardmidwest.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/karri-plowman.jpg "Karri Plowman On Board Midwest")
Karri Plowman, executive director of On Board Midwest, discusses the coalition's role in advocating for high-speed rail along the River Route.
Leaders of Wisconsin’s Empire Builder High-Speed Rail Coalition and the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission advocated for the River Route, which would include stops in La Crosse, Winona, Red Wing, and Saint Paul.
The organizations also believe that the route has the greatest chance for operational success because it has the capacity to maintain both freight and passenger services simultaneously. “I really feel that this route will come out on top,” said Winona Mayor Jerry Miller, who heads the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission, which consists of officials from communities located along Amtrak’s Empire Builder line.
Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation commissioners, Tom Sorel and Frank Busalacchi, were both on hand to offer their thoughts about the cooperation between the two states. Sorel noted that Minnesota and Wisconsin state agencies are conducting studies this year to determine the best possible route and will conduct further planning and engineering on that primary route in 2011. Busalacchi stressed the need for continued funding for high-speed rail to complete the proposed Midwest regional rail system.
“This is about giving people options for transportation. This is about the environment. It’s about energy independence. All of these things are very important,” said Busalacchi.
“We need to work very closely with the state of Wisconsin to make this work. And make this work not only for each of our states, but work for the Midwest and make sure we have high-speed rail service that makes sense for all of us,” said Sorel.
Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel and Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi address the more than 100 high-speed rail supporters who attended the La Crosse summit.
James Hill, Empire Builder Coalition coordinator, called the meeting “historic” because elected representatives from 25 communities and counties spanning the Empire Builder route were cooperating to bring high-speed rail to their communities. This multi-state cooperation will be crucial as we continue to seek funding for the project.
For more information, click on the following media coverage of the meeting:
For more pictures from the summit, click here.
Minnesota and Wisconsin to discuss regional high-speed rail cooperation
March 10th, 2010Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation commissioners, Tom Sorel and Frank Busalacchi, will meet March 18 in La Crosse to share information with other transit supporters about the project and how the two states are working together. The sold-out public meeting is the first time the two have met publicly to discuss the regional plan.
The commissioners, along with representatives from the Minnesota High-Speed Rail Commission, the Empire Builder High-Speed Rail Coalition, and On Board Midwest, will talk about several of the proposed routes through Wisconsin, including routes through Eau Claire and La Crosse. On Board Midwest strongly supports the Mississippi River Route, which would go through La Crosse. The River Route also allows for improvements to freight, commuter, and Amtrak services, which would be better for the region as a whole.
One of the proposed high-speed rail routes from Chicago to Saint Paul would run through La Crosse to Saint Paul along the Mississippi River.
Next week’s meeting is another key milestone for bringing high-speed rail to Saint Paul along the Mississippi River Route. Several hundred supporters are already planning to attend the meeting and a growing overflow crowd will watch the meeting via video link.
This meeting is a good reminder that this high-speed rail plan is bigger than Minnesota. The cooperation between officials and businesses on both sides of the river will help us move the project forward.
Stay tuned to On Board Midwest for more information about this meeting. In the meantime, click here to read an article about the meeting published in the La Crosse Tribune.
