LIZ SOLBERG introduced fellow Rotarian, ARVID OLSON, whose topic was the Hoosier State Train. 
He began by giving us a brief history of transportation in Lafayette. From steamboats to airplanes, the city has seen it all. Passenger rail is particularly important as an economic engine in the current age. Most Millenials (born between 1982 and 2004 and the largest generation so far) have a very different lifestyle than previous generations. They value their smart phone and a sense of community. Already in debt due to college costs, they do not own houses or cars. They prefer cycling, friends’ cars or rail transportation. Forty percent do not have a driver’s license.
OLSON says that Normal, IL (the same distance from Chicago as Lafayette) renovated it’s rail station and built apartments close to it. So many Millenials live there that they can’t keep ahead of the demand for apartments. In order to keep recent graduates in the Lafayette area, we need better transportation to Chicago and other major cities.
OLSON introduced Heather Hise, development director for the Hoosier State, which is owned by Iowa Pacific.
She explained that this is the first public/private partnership of it’s kind. The brown and orange trains have been running since August 2nd, offering comfortable seating, wifi, and meals. They have an 86% on-time record so far. She invited us to take the train. As ridership in proves, more days of the week will be added and eventually more trains a day. To purchase tickets, visit their website: www.hoosierstatetrain.com
VISITING ROTARIAN:
BOB FEUER, Daybreak.