Statistics from the Texas Transportation Institute
Texas Transportation Institute
VISION TO REALITY
What does it take to build a Midwest High-Speed Rail Network?
until the success of each one of the 
new corridors proved them wrong...”

.
It is happening right now.
This is not some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky vision of the future.
President Barack Obama, April 2009
ELPC helped create the political climate 
necessary for the Midwest Regional Rail 
Initiative to succeed -
Traffic congestion costs the US $87 billion per year in time delays and fuel costs. 
The average 
US traveler 
wastes 
one week 
per year 
stuck in traffic. 
--US Customs Agency
In June 2009, 24% of US airline flights were delayed.
(Bureau of Transportation Statistics)
Roughly 25% of O'Hare flights are for trips of 400 miles or less; precisely the range in which high-speed rail travel is competitive on a door-to-door basis. 
(Crain's Chicago Business 2004)
Passengers at O’Hare airport spent an average of 15 minutes in security processing in July 2009

THE MIDWEST HIGH-SPEED RAIL NETWORK
High-speed trains in the Midwest will be three times as energy efficient as cars and six times as energy efficient as planes. 
In 2009, ELPC successfully advocated to include 
$850 million of rail funding in the Illinois capital budget.
 This new funding will 
untangle freight rail 
in Chicago and accelerate 
high-speed and 
passenger rail 
development.
...virtually no water quality, wetlands, wildlife, historic resource or environmental justice 
Kevin Brubaker,  The Vidette Times, 2001
This is a win-win for economic development and the environment.  
--Howard Learner, April 7, 2004 in the Capital Times
Let's get these fast trains moving.
Kevin Brubaker, March 2001 Dayton Daily News
First-class service on a plane is what we're offering everybody on these trains.
The Midwest Corridor is a one-of-a-kind partnership that will create jobs for Michigan workers, enhance transportation options for citizens, and provide significant 
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
An investment of $100 million to create rail service between Boston and Portland, Maine triggered over $7 billion in additional construction investment, almost 7 million square feet of new commercial space and 18,000 new jobs since 2001.



...here and in the rest of the US, it's almost as if the average person doesn't dare dream that travel could ever again be fun, wise or efficient. Consider this permission to start thinking about it.  


- The Grand Rapids Press
state GDP equivalents
Together, Midwest States have 
as much economic power as Japan.
- from Heartland Free City, R+D Studio www.rdstudio.info
Dayton Daily News
“Boondoggle”, “Loss-making whim”…Critics complained with those arguments against high-speed rail projects over years, 
Jose Blanco Lopez, Minister of Transport and Public Woks, Spain
In 2003, ELPC led the drive for state funding
that doubled ridership on three main Illinois rail lines: Chicago to Springfield and St. Louis, 
A modern, fast, comfortable and convenient passenger rail system in the Midwest would give 65 million people in eight states a good new alternative to planes and cars 
“



In 1995 and 1996, ELPC released studies demonstrating that high-speed rail is financially feasible and will create thousands of jobs throughout the Midwest. 
Regional Leadership
Broad Outreach
Effective Advocacy
What Does it Take
to build a Midwest 
high-speed rail network?
Midwest High-Speed Rail network would reduce CO2 pollution by 40,885,167 lbs annually
Report by the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Center for Clean Air Policy
In 2009, eight Governors and Chicago Mayor Daley committed to work together to secure federal funding for the Midwest high-speed rail network.
It's time to accelerate development of a Midwest
high-speed rail network
 Howard Learner, July 2008, Wisconsin State Journal
In 1999, ELPC successfully led the charge for $250 million of 
rail investment in Illinois through the Illinois FIRST Infrastructure plan.
There is a seismic shift in our transportation sector.
"Almost 40 percent of total US carbon dioxide emissions are associated 
with residences and cars, so changing patterns of urban development and 


Ohio's governor has promised passenger rail between Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. Wisconsin leaders have committed to a high-speed line from Milwaukee to Madison. Leaders from 
- Kevin Brubaker, Detroit News March 18, 2009
— increasing mobility, reducing pollution, creating jobs 
and spurring economic development.


These studies were key to winning support from business leaders, 
labor unions and civic institutions.
economic development opportunities for communities. 
securing support from the 
Chicago Federation of Labor, 
Illinois AFL-CIO, and others as 
well as 300 local government 
officials.
transportation can significantly impact emissions."
Chicago to Champaign and Carbondale, 
and Chicago to Quincy. 
impact.  If ever there was a win-win 
transportation project, this is it.
Illinois...are committed to expanding a Midwest high-speed rail network with its hub in Chicago."
Many countries and studies have found 
benefits of rail-service versus aviation 
over shorter distances.
Brookings Institution 
October 2009
National Bureau of Economic Research
It's time to get moving.
The Environmental Law & Policy Center 
would like to thank our generous sponsors
Harry and Beth 
Drucker
Nancy Loeb 
and 
Jeff Colman
"It's a way of solving our global warming problems that also creates jobs and provides a boost to the economy"
Developing high-speed rail:
Howard Learner, Washington Post April 2009