This is a 30 year project, not a one or two or five year project. This is about building the future for our children and grandchildren.
There are going to be detractors to very jobs project and infrastructure improvement proposed by the Democrats and President Obama.
So, what? That's life. People complain even when those complaints are poorly founded in what is best for the USA.
...Murphy serves on Gov. Pat Quinn's High Speed Rail Advisory Council. This council was organized in June to study the viability of a 220 mph rail system in Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. According to Doherty, Murphy's role on this council is that of oversight, however the membership -- which includes Harnish -- reveals other potential conflicts of interest.
Another member of the council is MarySue Barrett, president of the Metropolitan Planning Council. According to Illinois Department of Transportation spokesman Guy Tridgell, IDOT commissioned the Metropolitan Planning Council for a study on job creation for a similar 110 mph high-speed rail system in Illinois.
Metropolitan Planning Council spokeswoman Mandy Burrell said the agency is also a proponent of bringing high-speed rail to the Midwest.
Both Tridgell and Doherty said that Murphy and Quinn welcome all perspectives in determining the feasibility of high-speed rail.
"Commissioner Murphy will use studies promulgated from the University of Illinois (and) from HSR projects from around the globe to ascertain best practices and applications for the Midwest," Doherty said in an email statement.
At least one group skeptical of high-speed rail says their voice has not been heard by the states....
