Why are we forced to choose. Why not have both corridors working?

It would also make sense to build an East-West corridor runs through central IL.

One possible route: Danville-->Champaign-->Bloomington/Normal-->Peoria-->Galesburg--->Quincy

Another route: Danville-->Champaign-->Decatur-->Springfield

We are forced to choose one true HSR, 220 mph route because they are VERY expensive to build. So we need to choose carefully. If the straighter, faster ROW Chicago-Champaign is chosen, it means that on the Normal route the trains will not be half as fast as the HSR line. That doesn't mean we can't continue improving the route via Normal to reduce those trip times.

But there is a limit to how fast passenger trains can go on lines shared with freight. The heavy freight trains put too much stress on the tracks to keep them up to HSR condition.

Anyway, we just can't afford to spend billions on both routes -- not when so many routes around the country will also need billions of investment.

please comment and forward this abstract model/map below or let me know how to proceed. we need to connect the great lakes to keystone to northeast corridors as the 1st true new dedicated HSR alignment! thanks, mike

THE 1st TRUE HIGH SPEED RAIL/HSR SYSTEM-BULLET TRAIN FOR THE USA Please distribute this concept with attachments to your transportation and energy contacts, I’m trying to receive feedback and financial and political support, thanks(to: usbullettrain@gmail.com). Advanced countries are implementing true High Speed Rail/HSR systems and the USA is earnestly trying to also; of the many concepts proposed, the Great Lakes HSR Corridor -GLC system should be the one built. Millions of people would be able to use the system and even more benefit from it’s numerous advantages.

This concept/proposal has received many favorable reviews from academics, consultants, the transport industries and others. This is not the Midwest HSR initiative, rather, another transportation choice/mode, a separate dedicated true HSR / “bullet train” system. The Great Lakes & North East US regions=25% of all US inter-city travel by road and air!

The benefits of the brilliant safety records(no deaths on similar decades old Shinkansen or TGV HSR systems), non-reliance on oil(electric powered), less pollutions(air and noise), and less road congestions true electric HSR systems offers outweigh the initial startup costs and land expropriations necessary for this new transport mode.

Jet aircraft expel thousands of gallons of dirty imported oil exhaust into the atmosphere and create dreadful amounts of noise(HSR uses domestic coal and other alternative electric power and is much quieter). Ohare airport generates thousands of additional traffic congesting and polluting vehicles daily-not the case with the Great Lakes/GLC central business district/CBD or current Northeast HSR corridor/NEC CBD destinations. Incredibly!, estimates of life expectancy of people that live within several miles of a major airport is reduced by 6 or more years due to toxic airplane emissions. In Illinois, it’s also reported that the air pollution created by Ohare airport alone is greater than all electric power plants in the state of Illinois combined!

In addition, the GLC system would conserve 5 billion gallons of fuel a year(1 million flights), relying on alternative energies. Also, a big new airport consumes double the land that the entire GLC system concept would, 15,000 vs. 7,000 acres. Finally, discount airlines with multiple airplane/airport transfers per route have as long or longer travel times in the Northeast quarter of the US than most GL/NEC HSR route travel times.

The Great Lakes HSR corridor would connect 45 major US city pairs, therefore, many intercity passengers while other proposed US HSR system concepts connect less than a dozen major city pairs. There are about 1-2 billion individual intercity trips annually within the Northeast and Great Lakes corridors, consequently, the 50 million trips or more a year projected for the model GLC system seems very attainable. There is existing infrastructure throughout Pennsylvania to facilitate HSR travel amid the mountains there-the major concern in adaptation of this HSR concept. It is time to build true HSR.

Regards, Mike Lehman usbullettrain@gmail.com

Justification of a sustainable HSR/“Bullet Train” from Chicago to the Great Lakes & Northeast Corridors Great Lakes/GLC to Keystone/KC to Northeast/NEC

This is a proposal for an exciting, strategic and practical true high speed rail(HSR) “bullet train” project. New electric bullet train/HSR designs-systems use both “dedicated” and existing infrastructures/track/rights of way(ROW). The energy/economic/security and transportation/health/safety rationales for this new transport mode would mostly be for servicing the states of Illinois through to New York/ Jersey, connecting the cities of Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York. Detroit and Cincinnati/Ohio can be individual bullet train line origin-destination points(these total linked HSR systems’ state populations are over 140 million, half the USA population!).

Moreover, extra states would benefit by their link to Northeast corridor(NEC) service or by other modes to any city train station, including ones connected radialy to Chicago by conventional trains. The overall population reach serviced by both these systems combined is well over 170 million people in 18 states-more than Japan’s HSR system and 3 times the French TGV HSR population source! Philadelphia would be the logistic hub where Great Lakes corridor trains would meet the Northeast corridor and either terminate there or continue on, alternating either northbound to NYC/Boston or southbound to Baltimore/Washington DC; or, even perhaps east to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Great Lakes(GLC) train could carry in excess of 50 million passengers a year, drawing travelers from air and bus but mostly automobile modes in addition to acquiring induced new travelers. Over the very long functional life, the properties of the GLC and large initial capital investments would prove very worthwhile & efficient. Relative past costs and subsidies of the aforementioned cities’ air transport, interstate roads and highways were far more expensive in contrast than what this new initial route’s would be.

50 million GLC passengers a year is equivalent to about 1/3 of commercial aviation enplanements in the Great Lakes/Northeast corridor cities of the over 700 million annual domestic enplanements in the US. In Japan(pop. 120 million) HSR usage is over 130 million trips a year; in France(pop. 55 million) HSR usage is over 30 million trips a year.

This proposal will apt to be very unpopular with air and road transportation related industries/lobbies (9 of the 10 largest companies worldwide either produce autos or petroleum products); nevertheless, it shouldn’t be since additional railroad capacity alleviates some of their modes’ problems. Hopefully progress and logic will prevail and this new transportation mode can develop and thrive despite other interests.

ECONOMIC REASONS (only 2% of world oil reserves are in the USA, true HSR transport is all electric using domestic coal and other sustainable energy resources) 1. This new GL Corridor system linking to the NEC interconnects more than 20 culture rich cities; 7 of the 10 largest and most important in the USA! The new line would travel from Great Lakes cities through the Alleghany Mountains on to Philadelphia, New York City, Washington DC and the rest of the Northeast HSR(NEC/Acela) cities.

2. There would be new job creation generated by construction and then for continual operation and maintenance of the GLC route(also, more good CBD/downtown jobs). Rider ship levels should reach and exceed the levels of the French TGV ultimately. The French TGV, with over 30 million annual trips, has revenues of about $3 billion a year.

3. With possible revenues of $4 billion or more a year, the large investment in this line’s infrastructure and train sets would be realistically paid for within several years time, similar to the French TGV experience with their revenue streams financing and funding.

4. This new route would augment and strengthen AMTRAK abilities and potential elsewhere on complementary routes and that of the Northeast corridor/Acela. Acela/NEC HSR utilization continues to grow and is AMTRAK’S most profitable and popular route.

5. This travel mode would enhance cities’ CBDs and integrated rail developments there. Proposed connected cities; Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburg, and Philadelphia have and are expanding upon their own internal rail transit systems-cities not entirely reliant on autos!

SECURITY REASONS (HSR trains could evacuate an entire large city in 1-2 days)

1. The airline transportation mode is more favored for terrorist attacks(hijackings, bombings, sabotage, poisonings etc.) Assaults are not as likely or as catastrophic with the HSR transportation mode-insurance companies and the public would welcome that.

2. The HSR mode of transport wouldn’t call for the necessary extreme expense and trouble of security systems and additional equipment as the airline mode requires.

3. In the advent of an airspace shutdown again or bad weather the HSR corridors would serve as another travel alternative to air/road travel in the northeast USA and Great Lakes.

MOBILITY/HEALTH REASONS (Electric HSR uses energy<10% of like air travel)

1. Tragically and exceptionally costly, about 50,000 people die and tens of thousands more are permanently disabled yearly from roadway/aviation related accidents(less driving/flying=less deaths). In France and Japan, HSR hasn’t had a passenger fatality in over 60 years combined. 100s of people and billions of $s could be saved by using HSR in lieu of personal vehicles and aircraft. And also, 5 billion gallons a year of oil is saved!

2. Most new right of way/ROW-infrastructure could be built adjacent to existing highways and railroad lines for environmental considerations and land use purposes(aircraft and road vehicles are much greater noise, air and land polluters).

3. Over 1/3 of all Americans don’t like to fly, therefore leaving long, congesting, costly and hazardous auto/bus modes or intricate AMTRAK schedules as their only alternatives.

4. Airport traffic creates more ground pollutions/congestions around large population centers. There is a potential total of 8 congestion adding personal vehicle trips to/from airports to pick-up/drop-off a flyer at airports. Combination rail/walking travel modes are much healthier and greener than the traditional airplane/automobile modes.

5. This new dedicated HSR line would travel the 750 mile Chicago to Philadelphia length in 4-5 hours at 186+ mph speeds(which approaches short airplane trip speeds) with only 3 stops in between (Cleveland, Pittsburg, and Harrisburg). Continuing on to DC, NYC or Atlantic City would add another 1-2 hours to the total overall trip departing the Chicago/Gary station eastbound. See attached model illustrative map.

6. This mode of travel would be especially relaxing and enjoyable. The ability to personally move about, enjoy views(especially in Pennsylvania), work, talk, eat and rest in a hassle-free, safe vehicle like a bullet train is truly unsurpassed. Indeed, elderly and ADA citizens would prefer this transport option to auto, bus and airplane travel also.

BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUAL STATES (HSR reduce airports’ congestions also) (connected cities CBDs will gain significant tourist, business, and personal trip activity)

Illinois The western end of the GLC line, linking the Chicago CBD to 100 million + people. Chicago is positioned to reach another 30 million connecting travelers by all modes from adjoining states to its’ GLC system stations. Furthermore, the GLC reduces the need for airport expansions as well as easing roadway congestions too in the Chicago region! Indiana Gary, IN; the USA geographic transport pinch point that filters most modes’ traffic east and west. Gary/Chicago airport/region development and added use of the South Shore/IC Railroad infrastructure. The suburban Gary/Chicago GLC station would have multi-modal connections; airlines, commuter and HSR rail and major interstate highways. Ohio/Michigan (GLC trains have a dual purpose as transit trains in Ohio and Detroit) The midpoint of the GLC/corridor between Chicago and Philadelphia with additional connections originating from Detroit and Columbus and Cincinnati into Cleveland. Pennsylvania Economic development of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia CBDs and connecting through the state capitol of Harrisburg which is also positioned in the state’s mountain/historic areas along with many other tourist attractions. The advantages of two USA HSR systems.

*Transportation is the leading cause of accidental and child deaths-costing millions each!

**GLC HSR system would be a sensible, comfortable and safe mode of necessary mobility that half the USA population could access, utilize and appreciate-a very important investment. The USA should embrace developing and engineering this efficient, alternative transportation mode& technology in these corridors.

-- mike lehman 3639 n pine grove, #21b chicago, il 60613