By Josh Weinhold, Truth Staff
jweinhold@etruth.com
ELKHART -- City officials want their voices heard loudly and clearly in Indianapolis and Washington: Elkhart wants high-speed rail here.
The city council unanimously passed a resolution Monday urging state lawmakers and Indiana's congressional delegation to support a proposed Chicago-to-Cleveland high speed rail line that could pass through South Bend and Elkhart.
The resolution, introduced by Mayor Dick Moore, is meant to show federal transportation officials that such a project would be welcome in a city with a long history and deep connection to railroads.
High-speed rail linking South Bend, Elkhart and Mishawaka with Chicago, Toledo, Cleveland and other cities would have an enormous economic impact on the area, the resolution states. It would also increase resident mobility and catalyze local rail and bus transit systems.
Two proposals are under consideration at the state level, a southern route passing through Plymouth, Warsaw and Fort Wayne, and a more northern one through St. Joseph and Elkhart counties.
Indiana Department of Transportation officials would pick one of the two plans, if the federal DOT approves a $2.82 billion request to build the Chicago-Cleveland line.
But city council members said they don't see why a happy medium couldn't be found. Why not do it right the first time, they asked, and combine the two routes, ensuring all important cities on the route are served?