High speed rail needed

Saturday, July 08, 2006

The Capital Times editorialized in support of Interstate II -- a nationwide system of high-speed rail:

Today, a drive to Chicago from Madison can take as long as it did in the pre-interstate days on the old two-lane U.S. 12 and U.S. 14.

Unfortunately, like in most of the country, there is no rail alternative. Amtrak, which Congress continually squeezes almost to death, serves a small piece of the country and then only with one train per day, often at inconvenient times.

All of this is leading to a new movement that proclaims it is time for "Interstate II," a nationwide system of high-speed rail that can connect with urban light rail and bus systems to make travel easier and quicker without having to rely on cars hopelessly caught in traffic backups.

A piece of the Interstate II has long been proposed for the Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-Minneapolis corridor to connect the most vibrant pieces of the Midwest's economy.

What in the world are we waiting for?