In a previous post about Spanish high speed rail lines, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle mentioned how he hoped to bring a regional network to the Madison-Milwaukee-Chicago area. The fact that the United States does not currently have an extensive high speed rail system in place should not deter the US from developing one. Prior to 1992 the Spanish system did not exist, yet today it reaches all regions of the country. Outside of the Acela Express operated by Amtrak, which connects Washington DC with New York City and Boston, there is no existing high speed rail line in the United States. However, with $8 billion earmarked in the stimulus bill for these projects, the time to act is now. Senator majority leader Harry Reed (D-NV) has mentioned plans for a line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. According to a recent article in Railway Technology, tentative plans to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco via high speed rail are in jeopardy due to California’s budgetary shortfall. The stimulus bill could provide the needed funds to keep the project viable and start the redevelopment of American transportation while providing jobs.

Last year John Mica (R-FL), former Republican leader and current ranking minority member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, promoted passage of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (H.R. 5644). Representative Mica championed development of a public-private partnership in support of improvements on the Northeast Corridor Rail Line (Also click here for more information). The United States House of Representatives provides a downloadable PDF of descriptions for various proposed regional rail systems.

High Speed Rail Corridor Destinations (Proposed)

Several regional high speed rail associations exist throughout the nation with plans under way for the development of nationwide train networks. These include:

• The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, in connection with the Indiana High Speed Rail Association
• The Florida High Speed Rail Authority
• Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor
• California High Speed Rail

If Governor Doyle’s plans for a Milwaukee-Madison-Chicago network receives funding, this would help expand the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) proposed  “Chicago hub“. The FRA provides speed and time travel goals for the Upper Midwest network in the table below.

Chicago Hub Network Rail Connections

These travel times are faster than car travel. Driving from St. Louis, MO to Chicago, IL  takes 4 and a half hours without traffic. Whereas the goal for train travel is 3:50 regardless of traffic conditions.

The time has come for the Unites States to develop a self-sufficient system of train travel. Whether this system is a mixture of public and private funding remains to be seen. The fact that the US is much larger geographically than other nations with national rail systems presents an obstacle. However, as a matter of job creation and economic stimulus that will leave the nation with a viable transportation infrastructure, look no further than regionally appropriate high speed rail lines. Jobs in both manufacturing and operating, as well as ticket sales, concierge services, and maintenance offer the prospect of a self-sustaining source of employment in these troubled times.

- Eric Wilson