Paul Purcell Should Clarify

From a recent 'gripe session' featuring several local CEO's, we take this line:

[Paul] Purcell, [CEO of Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc.] drew applause from the crowd of more than 200 business and civic leaders when he said southeastern Wisconsin needs high-speed rail to be more competitive.

What, exactly, does that mean?

If Purcell wants more 'high-speed rail' on existing tracks, (running, e.g. from the Illinois border through Milwaukee, or those running from the west into Milwaukee), that shouldn't be hard to do, and it may be worthwhile.

But if Purcell is suggesting that a new HSR system be created from whole cloth, he's in for a fight. Automobile commute time to downtown Milwaukee runs around 30 minutes from western Brookfield, or northern Mequon, or Oak Creek. That commute time is about HALF of Chicago's from any comparable suburban location.

What, precisely, is the "need" of which he speaks?

Maybe Paul Purcell could examine the spending of the State, Counties, and cities, find several hundred million of waste, and cut that out to make room for the spending he says is "needed" for a train. Maybe Purcell thinks that a 9-figure investment in 'high speed rail' will create a 9-figure tax-income return for those entities over 20 years.

But he hasn't shown us that. Instead, he simply declares that Milwaukee 'needs' high-speed rail, without stating precisely what he means by that remark.

That's not the way he runs Baird, I hope...