Kokomo mayor wants city connected to Indianapolis metro area by rail

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight isn't the only Kokomo resident wondering if the $340 million bypass around the City of Firsts will end up helping the city.

Goodnight is, however, convinced high-speed commuter rail will eventually come to Indiana.

When it does, Goodnight wants Kokomo connected, particularly to the Indianapolis metro area.

"They're talking about connecting Bloomington, Muncie, Noblesville ... Kokomo should be a part of that and utilize that to alleviate some of the effects of the economy," he said.

"Just like the highways connected the country in the 20th century, we need to be part of high-speed rail."

The future of high-speed rail in the United States took a massive leap forward in the Nov. 4 election, with President-elect Obama a firm supporter of the Midwest Regional Rail System initiative.

A proposed $8 billion upgrade of current rail lines to carry high-speed commuter traffic from a central hub in Chicago, the initiative has yet to catch fire.

The regional plan would introduce modern trains capable of a 110 mph operating speed to 3,000 miles of existing right of way, roughly cutting travel times by more than a third. High-speed trains in Europe, where billions have already been invested, usually travel in the 175 mph to 190 mph range.

But the idea has not garnered support from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who has focused his Major Moves infrastructure initiative on road projects like the Kokomo Corridor.

While Goodnight doesn't go as far as State Rep. Ron Herrell, D-Kokomo, in complaining about the Kokomo Corridor, he still sees adding rail lines as a better investment than the new bypass.

Herrell, in a debate before the election, said the new bypass would turn Kokomo into a version of the fictional backwater town of Radiator Springs from the animated movie "Cars."

"If people have to leave here to be a part of the Indianapolis work force, but they have kids in school here and a home here, they could stay here and commute," Goodnight said. "It's no different than someone living in Portage or Chesterton commuting to Chicago to work.

"They could do something like that in Kokomo, and it would help the housing market," he said.

Goodnight said he hopes Herrell, newly elected District 38 State Rep. Jacque Clements, R-Frankfort, and State Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo - the Kokomo delegation - will work hard for Kokomo when the Legislature reconvenes.

"I'd say, 'Think Big,'" Goodnight said. "We have Ron Herrell re-elected as State Representative and Jim Buck in the Senate now, and I think they need to use their influence like at no other time in their tenure to help Kokomo and Howard County. I'd say the same for Jacque Clements.

"Right now - and long term - when you look at things like fuel costs and the need for energy conservation, you have to include Kokomo in any connection of mass transit throughout the state,' he said.

Goodnight's other wish list item for the legislative delegation will be increased state incentives for cities pursuing environmental sustainability initiatives and "green" jobs.

On top of Obama's support for the Midwest rail initiative, interest in passenger rail has continued to grow across the United States.

Last month, The Associated Press reported Amtrak drew a record 28.7 million passengers in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. That total was an 11 percent increase from the prior year, and Amtrak ridership has increased six straight years.

Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa., told the AP higher gas prices and concerns about foreign oil dependence have made elected officials more willing to invest in passenger rail.

"There is an appetite for city-to-city rail," Rendell said. "Why should we be any different than any other country in the world? You go to Europe and you can't get an airplane to a city less than 200 miles away.