High speed rail has received more local and national attention after recent airline tragedies. There has been a push recently to focus more resources on improvements to rail lines to accommodate high speed passenger rail service.
High speed rail is passenger rail service on rehabilitated freight railroad tracks using modern train equipment and improvements such as reduction of grade crossings to allow for higher rates of speed than traditional passenger rail service.
Midwest Regional Rail Initiative: A multi-agency effort involving 9 states and 3,000 miles of high speed passenger rail service. The 9 states are Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. See a map of this proposed system.
Midwest Regional Rail Study: The multi-agency group completed a feasibility study in February 2000. Highlights from the study are: Total 9-state system costs $4.1 billion (1998); Chicago-Milwaukee-Green Bay route (includes Chicago-Twin Cities) costs $978 million (1998); Phased ten-year implementation schedule proposed; Chicago-Twin Cities route proposed near end of implementation schedule; Twin Cities-Chicago portion of system is 525 miles--130 miles of that portion is in Minnesota from La Crescent to St. Paul
Minnesota's Union Depot in downtown St. Paul is the terminus for the Chicago-Twin Cities segment.
