Fort Wayne recommended for high-speed rail route
By Doug LeDuc of The News-Sentinel
Posted on Thu, Nov. 21, 2002
If a high-speed Amtrak passenger rail service project ever gets federal
funding, Fort Wayne should be on its route, according to the Indiana Department
of Transportation.
The department, Amtrak and the Ohio Railroad Development Commission
today released results of a year-long study examining alternative high-speed
rail passenger routes across northern Indiana.
The results were summarized during a news conference at the Baker Street
Station, where passengers once boarded trains bound for major Midwest cities.
They favored a route through Fort Wayne over a route through South Bend,
but suggested improvements for South Bend's passenger rail service to Chicago.
Because it will contribute to economic development, "northeast Indiana
is going to benefit and our state's going to benefit," said Fort Wayne
Mayor Graham Richard.
The train could travel at a maximum speed of 120 mph, compared with
a current maximum of 79 mph. And a trip between Fort Wayne and Chicago
would take between 105 minutes and 115 minutes, depending on the number
of stops. |
