Why Did Dennis Avery Select Chicago Over Indianapolis?

(destination360.com)

Back in 2009, we were fortunate to have a glimmer of hope for passenger rail coming to Evansville when State Representative Dennis Avery tried to get $300,000 from Indianapolis to study an Evansville to Chicago route...

http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.aspSectionID=31&subsectionID=298&articleID=47391

"I believe there are some people that would much prefer to put their car in the garage and take the train," Avery said.

This was the first time, in a long time, that we came close to actually pursuing passenger rail in Evansville. Although Avery said the study wouldn't have been for high speed rail, it would indeed have connected into the high speed rail grid...

"The network Obama unveiled amplifies Chicago's role as a key hub and includes high-speed routes that would connect Chicago to Indianapolis, and then Indianapolis to both Louisville, Ky., and Cincinnati. But Evansville wouldn't be connected to those routes.

Avery said the fact that major Indiana cities such as Evansville and Terre Haute are close to the network "basically points out the importance of having a study to see if western Indiana would be a desirable route.""

Unfortunately, when budget talks heated up in Indianapolis, the study was scrapped. I found this to be nothing short of hypocritical for Indianapolis to claim there is no money to study a passenger rail route for Evansville when they are planning on spending well over $5 billion on Interstate 69.

Nonetheless, some of those who opposed or were skeptical of the study wanted Avery to pursue an Evansville to Indianapolis route instead of one going to Chicago...

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/oct/03/high-speed-rail-the-issue-amtrak-looks-to-our-we/

"Here in Indiana, much of the talk and hope has been about linking Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville and Cincinnati as part of a Midwest high-speed rail network. While Evansville isn't on that map, State Rep. Dennis Avery attempted last year to secure $300,000 for a study of passenger rail service between Evansville and Chicago. We felt at the time that an Evansville-to-Indianapolis route might find more support in Southern Indiana, but alas, it didn't matter. Avery's request was erased from the proposed state budget amid worries about more immediate state needs."

Of course, as we all know the Evansville Courier & Press published the above article as one of their latest attempts to stop anything that they feel would threaten their boondoggle known as I-69 from being completed. So much for "more immediate state needs." However, there are some who support rail but question why Chicago should receive priority over Indianapolis even though Indianapolis is our state capital.

One organization, The Transport Politic, even proposed a route from St. Louis to Louisville going through Evansville but did not include any routes from Evansville to Chicago or Indianapolis...

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2009/02/01/a-future-interstate-rail-network-redux/



But there is a reason for this selection. If you look at the overall goal for high speed rail...



You will see that both St. Louis and Louisville are important hubs connecting to the ultimate hub for the Midwest High Speed Rail Network- Chicago.

And if you look at the Midwest High Speed Rail Network specifically...

(indygov.org)

You will notice that all rail lines in the Midwest will head to Chicago. Why is this? Because there is a new economic model emerging in the United States. This model is called megaregions. What are megaregions?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megaregions_of_the_United_States

"A Megaregion, also known as a Megalopolis or Megapolitan Area, refers to a clustered network of American cities whose population ranges or is projected to range from about 7 to 63 million by the year 2025.

A megaregion is a large network of metropolitan regions that share several or all of the following:

Environmental systems and topography
Infrastructure systems
Economic linkages
Settlement and land use patterns
Culture and history

The Regional Plan Association recognizes 11 emerging megaregions:

Arizona Sun Corridor Megaregion
Cascadia Megaregion
Florida Megaregion
Front Range Megaregion
Great Lakes Megaregion
Gulf Coast Megaregion
Northeast Megaregion
Northern California Megaregion
Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion
Southern California Megaregion
Texas Triangle Megaregion

More than 70 percent of the nation's population and jobs are located in 11 megaregions identified by Regional Plan Association."

Here is a map of the 11 megaregions...

http://www.rpa.org/america2050/sync/elements/america2050map.png

Why is it important to have a direct route to Chicago, the capital of our megaregion?

1. The vast majority of flights over 600 miles leaving the megaregion will go through Chicago.

2. The vast majority of goods that are being shipped to the Midwest will go through Chicago.

3. The vast majority of the population in the Midwest will either live in Chicago or on a high speed rail line that goes directly to Chicago.

4. Having a direct line to Chicago will allow us to reach the rest of the Midwest Network as they will have direct lines running into Chicago as well.

5. Having a direct line to Chicago will allow us to tap into their human intellectual knowledge as well due to the fact that the entire Chicago population will be within a few hours of reaching Evansville.

There are also a few other minor reasons why a route to Chicago should take priority over Indianapolis...

1. Evansville to Chicago is served by a CSX-Class I Railroad which makes it an easier line to upgrade for high speed rail.

2. Evansville to Chicago also has a CSX side spur at Terre Haute that goes to Indianapolis making an Evansville-Terre Haute-Indianapolis route cheaper and more productive that an Evansville-Bloomington-Indianapolis route.

3. Chicago already has a bigger population than Indianapolis.

So while reaching Indianapolis, the capital of our state, may seem to be the best solution, reaching Chicago, the capital of our megaregion makes much more sense.

If Evansville is truly going to join the rest of the Midwest in establishing both national and international connections, we must send politicians to Indianapolis who share the same vision that Dennis Avery had for Evansville.

We must go to Chicago before we go to Indianapolis!

Let's Make Lloyd Winnecke Evansville's First High Speed Rail Mayor

(courierpress.com)

Now that the election is over, it is now more than clear that Evansville is divided by more than US 41. Yesterday's election was gut wrenching if you supported Rick Davis for mayor (as I did) or it was legendary if you supported Lloyd Winnecke for mayor.

First and foremost, thank you Treasurer Rick Davis for running for mayor. Of all of the campaigns I have worked on, which includes several in Lexington, KY, a few in Seattle, WA, and a few here in Evansville, this has been the most fulfilling one for me. I will never forget it and I am thoroughly saddened that it's over. At Rick's town hall meetings, several rail supporters came to him with questions about Evansville's future in passenger rail. Rick gave his full support for high speed rail and he said he would fight for it. Thank you Rick for listening to the High Speed Rail Movement!

Next, I would like to congratulate Commissioner Winnecke on becoming our 34th mayor. Commissioner Winnecke has worked hard for Evansville, and I appreciate him willing to take on the task of being mayor for Evansville.

So with all of that being said, Evansville is at a crossroads (no pun intended) when it comes to transportation. We can continue going down that same path known as the interstates that aren't safe, they aren't productive for job creation, they aren't clean, they aren't fast, they aren't cheap or affordable, and they have taken their toll on the environment.

Or, we can choose to go down a new path. That path is high speed rail. High speed rail offers Evansville a chance of a lifetime. With high speed rail, we have the opportunity to create jobs by the thousands with a slack water port next to our rail lines (both passenger and freight), the opportunity to transport residents safely as high speed rail has only had one fatal accident in its 47 year history, the opportunity to clean up our environmental emissions, the opportunity to save farmland, the opportunity to prevent urban sprawl, the opportunity to work in Bloomington while living in Evansville, and the opportunity to finally join the rest of the U.S in the 21st century.

During this past election, Commissioner Winnecke indicated support for both I-69 and high speed rail. Although we are a divided city right now, we absolutely, positively need to make Commissioner & Mayor-Elect Winnecke aware of the benefits of choosing rails over roads.

In his plan "Moving Evansville Forward," Commissioner Winnecke said the following about high speed rail...

http://media.courierpress.com/media/static/Moving_Evansville_Forward.pdf

"Passenger rail in Indiana is currently limited to the northern and middle sections of the state. INDOT released the Indiana Rail Plan in 2009. The report acknowledged the potential economic benefit an increased passenger rail system would have on Indiana. This is why it is imperative that Evansville be included in any future plans for an extended passenger rail network. Current plans for improved rail coverage in Indiana woefully omit Evansville as a stop on any potential passenger rail system. As mayor, I will insist that Evansville be placed on any map as a stop on a new Midwest rail system.

There has also been a push at the federal level to encourage the development of high speed rail in the middle region of the country. The Federal Rail Administration has identified High Speed Rail Corridors throughout the country. One of these corridors connects Chicago, IL to Louisville, KY. The latest plan also neglects Evansville as a primary or secondary hub for this system. Once again, I will fight for the people of Evansville to be certain that our city is properly connected to a Midwest High Speed Rail system and takes full advantage of any economic benefit. "

This is a very well-written and thought out statement from Mr. Winnecke. I thank him for his willingness to embrace high speed rail in a town that doesn't like change. I, and I hope you will join me, must make sure Mr. Winnecke sticks to his campaign promise once he becomes mayor.

For those who aren't familiar with the Midwest High Speed Rail Movement, please check out these links in this post...

http://evansvillerail.blogspot.com/2011/06/take-look-at-our-high-speed-rail-region.html

Those who oppose high speed rail have tried all kinds of scare tactics. They have tried the following...

1. Claiming high speed rail is only being pursued in the Northeast Corridor and California. They are wrong, high speed rail is coming to the Midwest, and we must build into the system.

2. Said high speed rail is unaffordable. Yet, on average, high speed rail costs 1/4th the price of interstates.

3. Said high speed rail is a money loser. They are wrong big time on this claim. High speed rail is profitable while interstates don't even come close...

http://evansvillerail.blogspot.com/2011/06/it-makes-financial-sense-to-build-high.html

I have no doubt that high speed rail opponents will continue to use these scare tactics as well and many others. For this reason, if we are ever going to get high speed rail in Evansville, our leader and our mayor Lloyd Winnecke must be in full support of high speed rail. This is what happens when you don't prepare for high speed rail...

http://www.wndu.com/hometop/headlines/83076777.html

I trust Lloyd Winnecke will make the right decision on high speed rail. He has the ability to influence our economic development coalition, our chamber of commerce, the Evansville Courier & Press, our state and federal leaders, and many more who have the power to pursue high speed rail.

Congratulations Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke and I hope you will give high speed rail a chance!

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephenmosleymp/5866326058/)