President Obama made another pitch for high-speed rail this morning, calling it a cure-all for employment, transportation bottlenecks, and even the environment, says a Wall Street Journal blog.
And the Chicago-Twin Cities leg is included in the Chicago Hub Network, one of the 10 major corridors “identified for high-speed rail projects” in the president’s plan.
The Chicago Hub Network includes Chicago, Milwaukee, the Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville.
St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman weighed in on the president’s plan:
“Investing in our transportation infrastructure is essential to rebuilding our national economy. A 21st century high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Paul will lay the groundwork for new economic development throughout the Midwest. The President’s comments today show a commitment to a new partnership with cities that will grow our economy, protect our environment, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”
The WSJ notes, though, that it’s not a done deal:
“The problem is that developing a true, nationwide high-speed rail network will cost a lot more than the $13 billion the administration currently has earmarked. Some studies (PDF) suggest building a high-speed, inter-city rail network could cost between $250 billion and $500 billion.”
