Calling all Hoosiers, businesses, organizations, tourists, and anyone else who stands to benefit from complete intrastate public transportation in Indiana! I am urgently seeking your support in championing the creation of a comprehensive Amtrak route that connects Evansville to Fort Wayne via the heart of our state, Indianapolis. This unified route holds the promise of fostering economic development and accessibility while alleviating traffic congestion on our roads.

Comprehensive Amtrak Route: Evansville to Fort Wayne via Indianapolis

Route Options Between Evansville and Indianapolis (orange below):

1. Evansville, Princeton, Vincennes, Oaktown, Sullivan, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Indianapolis (193 miles)
2. Evansville, Oakland City, Maysville/Washington, Bloomfield, Bloomington, Indianapolis (176 miles)

Route Options Between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne (red below):

1. Indianapolis, Anderson, Muncie, Hartford City, Bluffton, Fort Wayne (120 miles)
2. Indianapolis, Bloomington, Marion, Huntington, Fort Wayne (132 miles)

I have mapped this route using satellite imagery, providing detailed insights that can be explored through the following link: Google Maps Link. Along the proposed routes, all the necessary tracks already exist, lowering the threshold for starting up new service. These tracks are primarily owned by CSX, Indiana Southern Railroad, and Norfolk Southern Railway (as see in figure 2-3 on page 58 of the Indiana State Rail Plan 2021), and can be used by Amtrak with a service agreement as usual. 

Recent grants issued by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) demonstrate a commitment to enhancing rail services. These grants include a daily service on the Amtrak Cardinal, an additional daily service between Indianapolis and Chicago, a new service connecting Fort Wayne with Chicago and Columbus, OH, and a new service between Indianapolis and Louisville, KY. We believe that implementing this comprehensive route will seamlessly complement these grants, fostering a robust and interconnected rail network in Indiana.

Existing Amtrak routes in blue, potential route given an FRA grant in yellow:

Benefits of the Comprehensive Amtrak Route:

1. Traffic Reduction: By providing an attractive alternative to road travel, the comprehensive Amtrak route will significantly reduce traffic on our roads, resulting in fewer car accidents, related injuries, decreased road maintenance costs, and diminished demands for road expansions.
2. Boosting Tourism: The route will attract tourists across the state, offering an affordable, eco-friendly travel option for those who may not have the means to fly or drive.
3. Accessibility: Enhanced rail connectivity will provide a crucial transportation lifeline for elderly or disabled individuals, fostering inclusivity and accessibility for all residents.
4. Safer: According to the same Indiana State Rail plan linked above, Amtrak is significantly safer than driving or even flying. Driving results in 1.42 deaths per 100 million passenger-miles, flying is 0.2, and Amtrak is only 0.03.
5. Educational Opportunities: Students throughout the state will benefit from convenient and affordable transportation to various colleges and educational institutions.
6. Business Development: The comprehensive route will attract businesses to Indiana, offering a convenient and efficient means of transportation for employees and clients.
7. Job Creation: The establishment of the route will contribute to job creation, with Amtrak employing individuals for various roles associated with train operations and maintenance.
8. Environmental Sustainability: Trains, as one of the greenest forms of transportation, will promote sustainability and reduce the overall carbon footprint of travel.
9. Productive Use of Time: Riding on the train means you don't have to focus on the road, and can use the time to work (or catch up on your favorite TV show). Unlike airplanes, you are using a form of "ground transportation" that means you still have cell phone service and free wifi aboard the train.

If you are just as excited about this plan as I am, you can take the extra step to email your senator and representative to bring this to their attention. Find your senator and representative here, and use the following as a template on what to send them (feel free to add more detail if you'd like!).

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Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],

I'm writing to express strong support for the Comprehensive Amtrak Route in Indiana, connecting Evansville to Fort Wayne via Indianapolis. This initiative promises economic growth, improved accessibility, and reduced traffic.

As a resident of [City/Town], I've signed a petition urging your support. Many constituents share my belief in the benefits of this integrated rail network. Please consider endorsing and advocating for this crucial initiative.

You can find the petition here: https://chng.it/8pJJRZ6PMv

Thank you for supporting a connected and sustainable future for Indiana.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name] [Your City, State]

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I strongly believe that the implementation of a comprehensive Amtrak route in Indiana, in addition to the routes given grants by the FRA, is pivotal for economic growth, accessibility, and traffic reduction. I urge you to consider this petition and advocate for the development of an integrated rail network that will benefit our state and its residents.