The governors of Florida, Ohio and Wisconsin have turned down federal funding for high-speed rail service. But in Illinois, the sentiment is  “All aboard.” The proposal for improvements along the Chicago-St. Louis corridor aims to connect arterial regions. And now, the Illinois Department of Transportation is asking for public input on the plans.

The Environmental Law and Policy Center has worked throughout its 15-year history to develop and promote high-speed rail in the Midwest. Howard Learner is the center’s executive director and he joined Eight Forty-Eight to share what these meetings hope to accomplish.