Wisconsin Governor Doyle and Midwestern Governors Join in Consensus for High-Speed Rail

Bipartisan Group Supports Milwaukee to Madison Route in First Phase of Project

April 13, 2009 -- MADISON – In a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, seven other Midwestern governors and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley joined in bipartisan support of a high-speed rail network that links cities around the region builds the economy and introduces a new vision for intercity passenger rail. Milwaukee would be connected to Madison and Chicago as part of the first phase of the system.

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“President Obama’s vision of making high-speed rail a part of our nation’s future transportation network holds great promise,” Governor Doyle and the co-signors wrote. “We recognize that a high-speed rail network has the potential to reduce highway and airway congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Iowa Governor Chet Culver, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty were co-signors.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and mandates high-speed passenger rail, and the Midwestern network would include 3,000 miles of existing rights of way to connect cities with trains capable of at least 110 miles per hour. Chicago, which is bidding to host the 2016 Olympic Games, would serve as the hub, just as it does for freight. The rail network would link large and small metropolitan areas, airports, bus stations and highways.

A copy of the letter is available here: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=16392

Source: Wisconsin Governor