Title
Supporting the selection of Alternative One of the Alternatives Analysis Milwaukee-Twin Cities High-Speed Rail Corridor Program.
Body
Enter the body of the resolution or ordinance here. If an attachment is a part of the resolution or ordinance body, reference it specifically.
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota, in conjunction with the states of Illinois and Wisconsin, has been studying "High Speed Rail" between Chicago and the Union Depot; and
WHEREAS, such High Speed Rail will provide reliable and competitive passenger rail service by decreasing travel times, increasing frequency of service, providing accessibility to major population centers, improving freight rail mobility and minimizing environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, nine Midwest states, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Amtrak formed the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI); and
WHEREAS, The work of the Initiative (MWRRI) has resulted in a well coordinated and integrated 110-mph rail Business Plan that defines the way in which the rail system should be implemented, and included a Benefit Cost and Economic Analysis (2006); and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), with assistance of a federal grant, initiated a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement document for new passenger rail service on the Milwaukee-Twin Cities corridor; and
WHEREAS, beginning in late 2009, the Alternatives Analysis portion of the Tier 1 EIS (Alternatives Analysis Milwaukee-Twin Cities High-Speed Rail Corridor Program)
was begun, for the purpose of selecting a preferred routing alternative for further study; and
WHEREAS, 25 initial routes were screened down to 14 alternatives, then down to 4 alternatives and finally down to one; and
WHEREAS, the 4 semi-final alternatives included #1 - Existing Amtrak route, #4 - Existing Amtrak route via Madison, #10 - Existing Amtrak route to Tomah, then via Eau Claire, and #11 - Existing Amtrak route via Madison to Tomah, then via Eau Clai...
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