MHSRA Responds to the House Transportation Committee Hearing on High Speed Rail

Statement from Rick Harnish, Executive Director, Midwest High Speed Rail Association

Earlier today, Members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discussed the status of the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program.

At the hearing, Committee leadership unveiled a new strategy that simultaneously sought to project themselves as both opponents and supporters of high-speed rail.

While applauding anti-rail political decisions in Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida, the Committee also praised the Northeast Corridor as the model for high-speed rail development.

While we support the development of a Northeast Corridor, the Committee fails to fully realize the demand and need for high-speed rail all across the country, particularly in the Midwest.

In stating it’s rationale for a Northeast-only strategy, the Committee’s pre-hearing briefing stated:

“In general, the highest demand for high-speed rail occurs in city pairs that are located 100-500 miles apart with large populations and economies, along with the presence of regional and local transit networks to provide connectivity for intercity passengers.”

By their own criteria, a Midwest corridor connecting the populations and economies of Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis and St. Louis represent a responsible and necessary investment.

We urge the Committee to reconsider their strategy and study the comprehensive demand and need for high-speed rail in the Midwest.