Rails may be the answer in Midwest emergencies
Nov 30, 2006 3:14 PM
Passenger rail service was discussed as a possible resource in planning for large-scale emergencies during a recent Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission meeting in St. Louis.
During the meeting, a report was distributed that concludes if improvements are made to the region's passenger rail system, rail can play a vital role in emergency evacuations of large metropolitan areas and supply delivery in the event of a disaster, the Columbus (Neb.) Telegram reports.
Using case studies from Sept. 11 and the Gulf Coast hurricanes, the report highlights the critical transportation role passenger rail can play during an emergency -- as opposed to personal vehicles and their potential for traffic jams.
Currently in the Midwest, passenger rail usually doesn't factor into emergency plans, largely because the region's passenger rail system is in need of improvements before it can play a pivotal part in a large-scale evacuation, the report says.
The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission is based in Lombard, Ill., and is made up of two legislators and two gubernatorial appointees from seven member states: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio.
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