Three high-speed rail (HSR) technologies were examined in the corridor connecting Minneapolis-St Paul to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. Travel characteristics in the existing market show the predominance of the air and automobile modes for nonbusiness purposes. Projected travel times for the 185-mph Train a Grand Vitesse and 300-mphmagnetic levitation trains show that rail could be competitive withair depending on origination and termination points of a given traveler. An analysis was conducted of the various HSR alternatives and their effect on projected air traffic from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (MSP) to Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago. The results indicate that although HSR could divert 17 to 33 percent of air passenger traffic in the corridor and 12 to 21 percent of aircraft operations, total impact on passenger movements and aircraft operations at MSP would range from 1 to 2 percent. Whereas capital costs foran HSR system range from nearly $1 billion to more than $5.4 billion depending on the technology, consumer and community benefits rangefrom $8 billion to $10 billion. Projected annual ridership and revenue would cover operating and maintenance costs for any of the rail technologies considered. Despite apparently low impacts on airport operations at MSP, cumulative benefits of HSR to the Minneapolis-St Paul metro area and the upper midwest should be weighed against the socioeconomic, environmental, and financial costs of airport relocations. Airport and rail operations concepts and strategies may work inconcert to significantly extend the life of MSP.
Abstract