(The following appeared on the Chicago Sun-Times website on March 19, 2010.)
CHICAGO — The Illinois Senate has passed a bill to create the Illinois and Midwest High Speed Rail Commission.
The commission would be assigned to create a plan by next March on how to structure a public-private partnership to design, build and operate a high-speed rail system at speeds of 150 mph and up. It also would issue recommendations on how to fund the network and integrate “bullet trains” with airports, Amtrak and public transit systems.
The bill still needs to be passed by the House and signed by the governor.