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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 397-11 F1'3 g9 /l • RESOLUTION WHEREAS, our reliance on oil-fueled airplanes and automobiles for intercity travel hurts the Midwest economy especially with the rising price of oil; and, WHEREAS, fast, convenient and affordable travel is needed to facilitate a strong and vibrant economy; and, WHEREAS, an integrated network of 220-mph bullet trains and 90-110 mph regional trains linking communities across the Midwest would transform the way we travel and do business by making travel more affordable and better connecting our business, manufacturing, agricultural, medical and research, and development centers; and, WHEREAS, high-speed trains would strengthen our economy, drive productivity in the region's existing commercial arenas, encourage job growth and help foster potential for business investment, entrepreneurship, technology development and advanced manufacturing; and, WHEREAS, the investment in a high-speed train network would lower our consumption of foreign oil, saving nearly 130 million gallons of gasoline a year; and, • WHEREAS, the construction of a high-speed network would create nearly 300,000 high-quality construction, engineering and manufacturing jobs; and, WHEREAS, a high-speed rail between Rochester and Chicago would make the 372- mile trip in two hours and 15 minutes with hourly departures each way; and, WHEREAS, a recent study published by the Midwest High Speed Rail Association found that development of a high-speed rail corridor from the Twin Cities to Chicago through Rochester would attract the highest projected ridership of all the Chicago hub corridors and deliver substantial economic benefits. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Rochester Common Council that it does hereby support an integrated network of high-speed trains as a key to economic development, job creation and fuel consumption reduction. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council calls on Congress to fund the development of viable passenger rail projects through the federal high speed rail program in the 2012 budget. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council calls on Congress to include a program to develop an integrated network of high-speed train service in the upcoming transportation thorization. • PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS IS7ri D YLF -r 2011. PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL ATTEST: J CtFY CLERK APPROVED THIS DAY OFA�Iar , 2011. MAYOR OF SAID CITY (Seal of the City of Rochester, Minnesota) • Resi Mupport.HighSpeedRail •