Mayor Updates Council On Tri-State High-Speed Rail Line
December 20, 2016 at 5:04 p.m.
By Dan [email protected]
The rail service would extend from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio.
At the end of the city council’s meeting Monday, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer reported that Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry announced that the Federal Rail Association has given its support to the tier I environmental study for the high-speed rail line.
“It’s but one of many, many steps,”?he said. “Essentially, it just says that the FRA recognizes the importance of that route.”
He reminded the council, “Probably four or five years ago, we raised funds, not just from here from city funds, but we went out to all of our partners in the community and raised funds for that study. So along the rail, the whistle stops if you will, those monies have been raised to do that tier I study. INDOT, as well as the FRA, have approved with moving ahead with that study and that was the gist of Mayor Henry’s announcement today.”
The Journal Gazette reported this morning that it’s known as an Alternatives Analysis and Public Involvement Process and required by the federal government. The preliminary work examining restarting service is to begin in January and end by fall, according to the Fort Wayne newspaper. The study will include an assessment of engineering and technical aspects of restarting regular passenger trips between Chicago and Columbus.
Over the last three years, $350,000 was raised from municipalities along the route as well as businesses, educational institutions and community foundations, the Journal Gazette reported.
As with most federal projects, an environmental study – a tier I study – is required, Thallemer said Monday night. When the tier I study is allowed to be done, Thallemer said that’s an acknowledgement of the viability of that route from a federal and state standpoint.
There are two phases to the study, which will be done – public input and the environmental portion.
“It’s a big step because the FRA acknowledges this is a viable route,” he said.
Cities involved in the study in Indiana include Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Plymouth, Valparaiso and “more than likely” Gary, Thallemer said. In Ohio, it’s Lima, St. Mary’s and three or four other stops to Columbus.
“But as you all know, rail projects are very expensive. I think this is a billion dollar project. It’s very expensive. The advantages are it’s on a line that’s been established, it’s a fairly level line, there’s not a line of elevation,” Thallemer said. “There’s a whole lot that still needs to be done. This is just step one and it’s taken three or four years to get to that.”
The Journal Gazette reported “the service could link 100 Midwest cities with comfortable, dependable train service through a network of rail lines now being envisioned at the federal level.”
The newspaper also reported that Fort Wayne City Councilman Geoff Paddock said early indications are that the service could serve as many as 2 million people annually and be self-sustaining in three to five years, generating $1.70 for every $1 in investment. It’s too early, however, to know how the rail line would be funded.
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The rail service would extend from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio.
At the end of the city council’s meeting Monday, Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer reported that Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry announced that the Federal Rail Association has given its support to the tier I environmental study for the high-speed rail line.
“It’s but one of many, many steps,”?he said. “Essentially, it just says that the FRA recognizes the importance of that route.”
He reminded the council, “Probably four or five years ago, we raised funds, not just from here from city funds, but we went out to all of our partners in the community and raised funds for that study. So along the rail, the whistle stops if you will, those monies have been raised to do that tier I study. INDOT, as well as the FRA, have approved with moving ahead with that study and that was the gist of Mayor Henry’s announcement today.”
The Journal Gazette reported this morning that it’s known as an Alternatives Analysis and Public Involvement Process and required by the federal government. The preliminary work examining restarting service is to begin in January and end by fall, according to the Fort Wayne newspaper. The study will include an assessment of engineering and technical aspects of restarting regular passenger trips between Chicago and Columbus.
Over the last three years, $350,000 was raised from municipalities along the route as well as businesses, educational institutions and community foundations, the Journal Gazette reported.
As with most federal projects, an environmental study – a tier I study – is required, Thallemer said Monday night. When the tier I study is allowed to be done, Thallemer said that’s an acknowledgement of the viability of that route from a federal and state standpoint.
There are two phases to the study, which will be done – public input and the environmental portion.
“It’s a big step because the FRA acknowledges this is a viable route,” he said.
Cities involved in the study in Indiana include Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Plymouth, Valparaiso and “more than likely” Gary, Thallemer said. In Ohio, it’s Lima, St. Mary’s and three or four other stops to Columbus.
“But as you all know, rail projects are very expensive. I think this is a billion dollar project. It’s very expensive. The advantages are it’s on a line that’s been established, it’s a fairly level line, there’s not a line of elevation,” Thallemer said. “There’s a whole lot that still needs to be done. This is just step one and it’s taken three or four years to get to that.”
The Journal Gazette reported “the service could link 100 Midwest cities with comfortable, dependable train service through a network of rail lines now being envisioned at the federal level.”
The newspaper also reported that Fort Wayne City Councilman Geoff Paddock said early indications are that the service could serve as many as 2 million people annually and be self-sustaining in three to five years, generating $1.70 for every $1 in investment. It’s too early, however, to know how the rail line would be funded.
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