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Photo courtesy of Patrick Hoff

News You Can Use

This week, governors from Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Minnesota signed a historic mega-regional pact that would encourage multi-state collaboration to support a Midwest high speed rail corridor.  This agreement strengthens the Midwest’s chances of capturing some of the $8 billion allocated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $50 billion proposed in the next surface transportation bill, and $4 billion of additional federal money.  Illinois’ commitment of $400 million in the recently passed capital plan and Wisconsin’s $80 million in its capital plan helps attract federal investments that will improve mobility, reduce congestion, and provide greater economic opportunities in communities throughout the Midwest. With USDOT already receiving 278 pre-applications totaling more than $102 billion in funding, coordination among the eight Midwestern states would keep our high-speed rail corridors competitive and well-positioned.

For Additional Information:

•  Vision of High-Speed Rail in America – Federal Railroad Administration Passenger Rail
• FRA Receives 278 Pre-Applications for High-Speed Passenger Rail Funding – USDOT

NEWS

Local News

Comprehensive rail plan good start – Daily Herald “We're talking about speeding up not just one isolated connection but every major link between Chicago and its metropolitan neighbors.”

Plan to regionalize bus service pitched – Post Tribune “Consolidating the Gary, East Chicago and Hammond bus services could save from $250,000 to $500,000 a year, according to a proposed plan.”

Illinois, Indiana Toll Roads May Join Macquarie Sales – Bloomberg “Macquarie Infrastructure Group may sell the leases on the Chicago Skyway and Indiana Toll Road as it seeks to raise cash, investors said.”

High-speed rail plan in Midwest gets a big push forward – Chicago Tribune “Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin and the City of Chicago entered into a memorandum of understanding that commits the governments to coordinate plans to develop 110-m.p.h. rail corridors across the Midwest.”

Study shows support for Illiana Expressway – Southtown Star “An idea for a roadway first discussed by urban planner Daniel Burnham about a century ago still has legs, according to a transportation consulting firm.”

High-speed rail would turbocharge Midwest economy – Crains “One hour and 52 minutes: That's how long it would take to get from Chicago to St. Louis on a European-style high-speed train.”

New rail money to put the ‘go’ back in Chicago – Chicago Tribune “A fresh injection of cash means a long-languishing, $1.5 billion project to ease train traffic jams in the nation’s most important rail hub by building new overpasses and modernizing signals can begin in earnest.”

World News

U.S. Can Cut Half Its Carbon Emissions From Transportation by 2050, Report Says – New York Times “The United States can cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation in half by 2050 with strategies ranging from cutting speed limits to imposing road pricing, according to a report released today.”

US House could act on $5 bln highway extension – Reuters “The U.S. House of Representatives could vote as early as Wednesday on a $5 billion stop-gap to shore up a depleted trust account that funds road and bridge repairs.”

MTA changes course, opening carpool lanes to solo drivers -- for a fee – Los Angeles Times “The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday set the tolls that for the first time will allow solo motorists to drive in carpool lanes on two of the region's most congested freeways."

House OKs money for rail, infrastructure bank – Reuters “High-speed rail projects would receive a $2 billion boost under a bill passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday that also lays the groundwork for a national infrastructure bank.”

Transportation Bill Not Likely to Pass Soon – Wall Street Journal “House lawmakers appear unlikely to reach agreement this summer over how to pay for a major transportation bill, disappointing state governments, transit agencies and construction companies hoping for a big boost in funding.”

Harvesting Clean Energy Along the Road – New York Times “The Federal Highway Administration does see promise — in general terms — in roadside renewable energy innovations, and it plans to provide funding for various projects.”

Mobility Issues Hinder School Choice, Study Finds – Washington Post “A new study shows that low and moderate income District families would be even more far-flung in their enrollment patterns were it not for transportation issues.”

Changes to S.F. parking permits proposed – San Francisco Chronicle “Transit planners suggest replacing the 1970s-era lettered parking sticker program with ‘parking benefit districts,’ a boutique approach to parking in which residents decide how much to charge for parking in their neighborhoods.”

Rapid transit, development and the Olympics – The Vancouver Sun “The 19-kilometre rapid transit line between Vancouver and Richmond isn't even open yet for the 2010 Winter Olympics and already people are lined up on both sides of the development fence.”

 

Resources

• Moving Cooler: An Analysis of Transportation Strategies for Reducing Green House Gas Emissions –Cambridge Systematics
  

• Economics: Pricing, Demand, and Economic Efficiency – FHWA
  

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Contact Information

For comments, suggestions or submissions, please contact Emily Tapia Lopez, Associate, at etapia@metroplanning.org or 312-863-6047.