High Speed Rail to Link U.S. Cities?
Barack Obama pledged $8 billion in funds from the stimulus bill and another $1 billion a year for five years.
He said, “I know Americans love their cars and no one’s talking about replacing the automobile. But this is something that can be done.”
There are 10 corridors which could receive federal funding. Some them are:
- A Chicago hub network, which Obama called “something close to my heart” in reference to his adopted hometown, linking much of Midwest, including Toledo and Detroit with Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Kansas City, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky.
- A California corridor, from Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area to Los Angeles and San Diego.
- A southeast corridor, linking Washington, D.C., with Atlanta and Jacksonville, Fla., and other points along the way.
- A northern New England corridor, from Boston to Montreal but with links to Portland, Maine; New Haven, Conn., and elsewhere.
Now this to me sounds like an excellent reason to keep the Michigan Central Station right where it is. The station is not in downtown Detroit, but, it is close enough to be made use of in my opinion.
Most airplane and train trips these days involve some sort of lay-over. If not a lay-over, you’re train leaves at 4:30AM. Who wants to get on anything that leaves at that time? Some of the office space in the Depot could be used for accomodations for those wishing to arrive the night before their departure or spend a lay-over in a room instead of a waiting room.
There have been arguments in favor of the high speed rail and against it. I have a feeling it’s going to happen and what an opportunity for Detroit and the Station.
