Obama Administration Awards High Speed Rail Funds to Wisconsin
Media Contacts
WISPIRG
Madison, Jan. 28 – Statement of WISPIRG Director Bruce Speight on today’s announcement from the Obama administration that Wisconsin will receive $823 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to prepare for high speed rail in the state.
The President followed up on last night’s commitment to job creation by announcing today that several states, including Wisconsin, will receive funding to build or plan for high speed rail. Wisconsin will receive $823 million as an initial down payment towards a high speed rail link between Milwaukee and Madison.
Today’s down payment starts the long journey towards a stronger, faster rail system for America.
High speed rail in Wisconsin will put thousands of people to work, clean our air, cut our energy-consumption, and assist in the resurgence of American manufacturing. For millions of inter-city trips, high speed rail will be a faster, cleaner, more efficient way to travel across the state than driving or flying.
Congress needs to follow up on this initial investment by securing more long-term funding for both a high speed rail system and the local public transit systems that will eventually feed into it. There will never be a shortage of workers ready to build these projects, or riders ready to use them, but in order to finally realize clean, efficient transportation in Wisconsin, today’s investment must be followed by continued commitment from our leaders.
We look forward to working with Governor Doyle and State and Congressional leaders to build on this down payment and expand high-speed rail in Wisconsin and across the Midwest.
On Feb. 9, WISPIRG will release The Right Track: Building a 21st Century High Speed Rail System for America, a major national research report quantifying the public interest benefits of high speed rail.
