Obama Issues Plan for $8 Billion High Speed Rail Grant Program
Media Contacts
WISPIRG and UEDA Applaud Doyle in His Leadership to Pursue Funding; Make Wisconsin a Success Story
WISPIRG
MADISON, WI – Following today’s announcement by the Obama Administration regarding a program that will allow governors to apply for a share of $8 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds set aside for high-speed passenger rail projects, WISPIRG and UEDA today applauded Governor Doyle for showing leadership and collaboration in ensuring Wisconsin aggressively pursues funding that will set the stage for future transportation improvements, bring much needed jobs to the region, and put Wisconsin on the path to leading the nation in 21st Century transportation innovations.
“The program laid out by President Obama and Secretary LaHood today is just the start of what could be significant and sustained U.S. government investment in rail systems that will strengthen our crumbling infrastructure and lead to real economic growth,” said Bruce Speight of WISPIRG. “High speed rail (HSR) projects make sense for American travelers and workers as it will help support communities and their environment. By moving swiftly and submitting a strong application for this funding, Wisconsin could become a shining success story, leading to additional investments in rail in our area and around the country in coming years,” Speight continued.
The Obama Administration has made it very clear that building a world class transportation system is a top priority and that it plans to continue to make significant investments in high-speed rail in subsequent federal budgets. Governor Doyle is making significant progress in ensuring that Wisconsin seizes this rare opportunity as soon as possible to transform our state’s transportation system.
Doyle has already demonstrated impressive leadership and collaboration reaching out to counterparts in the midwest region to agree on priority corridors making up the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. Doyle, along with the governors of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio sent a joint letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretarty Ray LaHood last week asking him to consider funding HSR projects in our region.
According to the 2004 Midwest Regional Rail Initiative Executive Report, the Wisconsin segment of the midwest corridor connecting Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago is in good standing for investment as it is identified as a phase 1 corridor demonstrating the highest potential ridership per dollar.
“In order to make this a reality, we must prove that Wisconsin is ready to reap the benefits that this federal investment could bring to our area. Regions demonstrating cooperation are more likely to be seen as viable options for these dollars. This gives even greater importance to supporting Governor Doyle’s recommendation for regional transit authorities (RTA)’s as a part of his 2009-2011 budget proposal,” said Megan Carr of UEDA.
WISPIRG and UEDA applaud Doyle in his leadership and urge state legislators to support his budget recommendation for the RTA to further reinforce Wisconsin’s commitment to regional cooperation with a focus on directing transportation funds toward projects that upgrade and link to our existing rail systems and put a down payment on a 21st century transportation network that enhances mobility, drives economic growth, improves air quality and reduces our dependence on foreign oil.
