Recently the governor was interviewed with Ray LaHood, Department of Transportation, in regards to the federally funded high-speed rail line from the Wisconsin border to St. Louis. Secretary LaHood commented that the proposed rail line will be a stimulus to the economy of Illinois. He stated that all the material for the rail line will obtained from Illinois sources and all the workers will be residents of Illinois, but the contractor will be a foreign corporation. It is a shame that the corporate profits of the endeavor will go to a foreign country rather than remain in Illinois.
From the Wisconsin border to St. Louis is approximately 350 miles and the high-speed train will travel at 100 mph, indicating the trip will take 3 1/2 hours. Of course that would indicate that the train traveled nonstop from Wisconsin to St. Louis. Let’s assume that the train will stop at least three to five times during its travels: Chicago, Bloomington, Decatur, Springfield, Champaign or other cities and stops for 15 minutes to a half hour at each location, adding another two hours to the trip for a total time of five to six hours.
A person taking this proposed trail would have to travel to a station by car or bus which may take an additional hour. Few of the potential users would live within walking distance to the station. A traveler can leave his home in Chicago, in his car parked at the curb and drive to the interstate and be in St. Louis in four hours in the comfort of his vehicle.
There would be no need to take public transportation from his home to the station and from the station to his destination.
So the high-speed rail line would not be as fast as projected and would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
— John Culloton, Chicago
