By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

Why the proposed high-speed rail corridor to St. Louis? What’s in St. Louis? The rail vision needs a northerly focus. We should head to Chicago instead. The food’s better and the business is more attractive.

The decision may be one to boost the attractiveness of Missouri, but this rail bridge needs to go somewhere, not east to St. Louis. Are they thinking the same thing? No offense intended to anyone, but this seems to be a very practical and pragmatic topic that should be based upon business potential not state camaraderie.

And before all this high-speed talk, we should just get the regular speed rail technology and service efficient and on-time, right? This is like discussing buying a Porsche when right now your Ford is up on blocks in the driveway. The discussion is fun though, and looking at the brochures and pictures of sleek trains gets people’s attention…for about a minute until reality sets in.

Rail is great. But the rail focus needs to be heading primarily north to Chicago to connect us with the business hub of the MidWest…not to watch the Cardinals and the Saints. Go, Chiefs! Next year, Royals!