REMARKS
PREPARED FOR DELIVERY
SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION RODNEY E. SLATER
MIDWEST HIGH SPEED RAIL ANNOUNCEMENT
JANUARY 28, 1999
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
President Clinton, in his State of the Union address, challenged us to build on our nation’s accomplishments -- we have the longest peace time expansion in history, the largest budget surplus in a generation, and we are making record investments in surface transportation. But this is not a time to rest. We must continue building a strong America for the new century.
High speed rail -- one of the safest, fastest and most efficient forms of rail transportation around -- can provide enormous benefits to the Midwest -- connecting commuters to jobs, easing highway congestion, eliminating at-grade crossings and promoting a clean environment.
In 1992, the Department of Transportation selected Chicago with links to Detroit, Milwaukee and St. Louis, as a high speed corridor. Today, I am delighted to announce the expansion of that Chicago Hub High Speed Rail Corridor to include a Chicago-Gary-Indianapolis-Cincinnati segment.
This expanded corridor represents opportunity for America’s Heartland. It will bring increased economic growth and improved intermodal connections to this region -- improving just-in-time delivery services and moving people more efficiently, while connecting the Midwest to opportunity -- demonstrating the Clinton-Gore Administration’s commitment to put the American people first as we move into the new millennium.
Today’s announcement is the result of a lot of hard work by many in this room, including Governor Thompson, Secretary Curt Wiley of Indiana, and Federal Railroad Administrator Jolene Molitoris. And Deputy Transportation Secretary Mort Downy, too, has been a strong proponent of high speed rail. I applaud your support and your vision.
This is a remarkable time for surface transportation. Last June President Clinton signed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century into law, providing record levels of investment for rail, mass transit, and highways.
Building from strength to strength, Amtrak, with assistance from the Clinton-Gore Administration, is back on track. And under the new leadership of President George Warrington and Governor Thompson our nation’s intercity passenger rail system will grow even stronger in the new century.
Current congestion levels and the ever increasing demand for travel points to high speed rail as an essential element of a world-class, 21st century transportation system.
All across the country, public/private partnerships are accelerating high speed rail. More than $1 billion in state and private funds have been committed to advancing rail in New York’s Empire Corridor, in the Pacific Northwest, the Southeast, the Gulf Coast and of course, the Midwest.
These states are well on their way to developing a high speed rail service that will be comparable to the Northeast Corridor which will introduce high speed rail service this fall with 20 new trainsets between Washington and Boston. And with your continued leadership, high speed rail will be key to transportation in the 21st century.
We will work with you to bring the latest technologies to this region while improving safety and performance. But, we will look to you to define the high speed program that works best for the Midwest.
To continue your study of high speed rail technology, I would like to present Governor Thompson -- who leads the nine-state effort -- with this check for $200,000. I know the Midwest Rail Initiative is interested in the non-electric high speed rail locomotive being developed by the FRA. These funds will help you evaluate that new technology.
Governor Thompson, President Warrington, and the Midwest Rail Initiative, I congratulate you on your leadership in bringing high speed rail to the Midwest and, in particular, the Chicago-Indianapolis-Cincinnati route.
The expansion of the Chicago Hub High Speed Rail Corridor represents not only opportunity for this region, but an investment in America’s future as we move from strength to strength.
This is the beginning of a great public/private partnership that will ensure your transportation system continues to efficiently move everyone and everything -- everywhere in a 21st century world.
I believe transportation is the tie that binds. It keep our communities vibrant and our people free to pursue happiness and opportunity. With the expansion of this corridor, I truly believe our best days are yet to come.
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