Minnesota Agencies

Promote development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the Midwest, coordinate elected officials on passenger rail issues, promote long-range plans for high speed rail passenger service in the Midwest, ensure cooperation among various groups that have an interest in developing and promoting Midwestern passenger rail, and support efforts of transportation agencies involved.

State legislators across the region wanted to do something to further the development of high speed rail in the region. They asked the Midwestern Legislative Conference for help. The MLC formed a task force of interested legislators, who first met in December of 1996. Over the course of time and many discussions, amongst themselves and with federal, other state, and local officials, members of the private sector and advocacy groups, the task force decided that a compact among the Midwestern states was the best way for state elected officials to help spur better passenger rail service in the region. The Compact language was developed during 1998 and 1999, and first introduced in 2000. The Commission is tasked with carrying out the Compact. The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission held its organizational meeting in January of 2001.

In addition to other advocacy efforts, the Commission has been active in developing a unified "Midwestern voice" for promoting passenger rail funding at the federal level. Commissioners and their allies have traveled to Washington, D.C. several times to meeting with Midwestern Members of Congress and other leaders to help secure the future of our nation's passenger rail system and to advocate for federal funding to advance the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, a nine-state effort to improve the efficiency and frequency of passenger rail service in the region.

Governor or Governor's designee, one member of the private sector and two legislators.

Appointing authorities: Governor, Speaker of the House, Majority Leader of the Senate.