U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Make Major Announcement
On Monday, May 9, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will hold press conferences in New York, NY and Detroit, MI to make a major announcement about high-speed intercity passenger rail.
WHAT: Press conferences in New York, NY and Detroit, MI.
WHEN: Monday, May 9, 2011 10:00 a.m. EST – New York, NY 2:30 p.m. EST – Detroit, MI
WHO: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood
WHERE: Penn Station, 234 W. 31st Street (between 8th Ave and W. 31st/33rd Streets) Detroit Station, 11 West Baltimore Avenue
For members of the media who cannot attend, Secretary LaHood will also hold a press conference call at 1:30 p.m. EST. Please email Caitlin Harvey at - - - - - - to RSVP and receive the call-in information.
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Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Looks like LaHood is going to announce a pile of dough for high-speed rail between Chicago and Detroit:
Wonder what the conservative governor of Michigan will have to say about this.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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From Marriott Courtyard Roswell GA--
Based upon my CHI-350-DET-353-CHI ride two weekends ago, I'd like to think what favorable impact any additional segments of that route to "HSR" standards would do for patronage.
While I found the loadings on both trains to be strong and comprised largely of young middle-class people, it still appeared to be a population of those who did not have access to an auto. But the ride at best could be called tortuous, with much slow running near Ann Arbor, plus the "heavy and slow stop and go" both Porter-Chi and Dearborn-Detroit, I have to wonder if this population, once having access to an auto (or an expense account that will "pop" for air travel) will put Amtrak into the "never again" dustbin.
I sincerely believe that Midwest routes such as Chil-Milw and Chi-Spfld can "hold their own" for travel where auto is an alternative. The ongoing track upgrades to the Lincoln Service GM&O will only enhance patronage. I'd like to think that track upgrades to the Wolverine MC route will only enhance patronage. While Detroit is "die totenstadt" with nothing on the horizon to revive its fortunes (the again healthy Big Three have shed much of their inherent bureauracy), there are two major universities en route (as well as several smaller private institutions around Niles)which I would think will continue as a ridership "pull".
But all told, any allocation of available funding to this route would be $$$$ well spent - and I think all here know that there have been much "HSR" funds spent "other than well".
sojourner Member # 3134
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Only wish it would continue on to Toronto.
palmland Member # 4344
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Here are some details from the Detroit News
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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If Governor Snyder is going to be at that announcement with LaHood, maybe, just maybe, he'll affix his imprimatur to the plan.
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