Study Results

The results of this study demonstrate both the feasibility and the tremendous promise for this network:

• 43 million annual riders from 13 cities and major metropolitan areas.
• More than $2.2 billion annually in user-generated revenues.
• 25 daily departures on each of the four corridors.
• Capacity for up to 10 trains in peak hours on each corridor.
• 2-3 hour travel times between Chicago and the furthest points of the network.

The economic impact of the 220-mph network on Chicago would be staggering. New jobs and business opportunities will support and enhance the Chicago metropolitan area’s global competitiveness and help Chicagoland maintain its preeminence as a global center by linking the financial, educational, technology and medical research resources of the entire region to produce:

• $13.8 billion per year increase in business sales for
  the Chicago Metro area alone
• 104,000 new jobs and an additional $5.5 billion
  in wages each year in the Chicago Metro area
  resulting from increased economic activity
• $314 million in new annual visitor spending in
  downtown Chicago

Estimated annual total economic impacts of Chicago-based HSR service in 2010

New jobs in the Chicago metropolitan area alone represent $118 billion in wages over 30 years, and the new business sales generated by economic activity associated with the HSR system are estimated to be almost $300 billion over 30 years.

The study estimates that the system would cost about $58 million per mile, or a total of $83.6 billion, putting it in the range of similar systems already operating around the world. Construction can be phased over time to meet the demands of the Midwest travel market.