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FRA develops first multi-state rail plan
I think this is an important concept not just for the Southwest states but elsewhere. I never agreed with GW Bush but the concept of changing Amtrak into a system of regionals I think has a lot of merit. This is a good start, The three Pacific states have a lot in common as does the corridor states from St. Louis to Detroit and Milwaukee but maybe west to Kansas City, too. The East Coast from Bangor, Maine to Richmond, VA and from Richmond to Miami and New Orleans are two more regions to be considered with reaches west to Cleveland and Chicago in the north and from New Orleans. These I know are broad strokes and leaves a lot of empty spaces but it is just off the top of my head as I type. The concept would concentrate services for the greatest number of people in those regions with inter regional services as needed taking the place of current long distance services which upset Congressmen more than it provides for public needs.