Wisconsin to get $810 Million for High-Speed Rail

[MadBadger]

Passenger trains could be shuttling between the state's two largest cities by early 2013 after a massive federal investment that could create 13,000 jobs, state officials said.

The more than $800 million in federal stimulus money awarded Thursday will cover all remaining costs for a passenger rail line between Madison and Milwaukee and amounts to more than 10 percent of the rail funds being doled out nationwide, making Wisconsin one of the biggest grant winners.

The service would include stops in Brookfield, Oconomowoc, and Watertown and carry passengers at an eventual top speed of 110 mph. The state could begin construction and hiring by the end of this year and complete the work by January 2013.

"This is an incredible day for the state of Wisconsin and it is particularly an incredible day for the city of Madison," Gov. Jim Doyle said.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_7811d436-0bca-11df-839c-001cc4c002e0.html

[BeatleBoot]

1. And zero for Michigan

other than a few train stations getting refurbishment.

Zero high speed rail here.

With an unemployment rate of 15%

[mzteris]

2. one to Chicago would be awesome!

(From Madison, I mean.)

[unkachuck]

3. a great deal for Wisconsin and good deal for America too....

....after the 810 million dollars are spent, the country will at least have something to show for it....that's more than I can say for wall street casino and banking parlor bailouts....

[wuushew]

4. Madison to Milwaukee is dumb, dumb, dumb

Madison is just not big enough to justify this project.

I do support a Milwaukee to Chicago link and high speed rail to Minneapolis.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. A line from Milwaukee to Chicago to Gary (Ind) could tie 4 airports together and...

...eliminate the ridiculous OHare expansion while being a commerce boon for all 3 areas.

[MadBadger]

14. Well, there is no Amtrak line from Madison to Milwaukee as it stands now.

And I think they could use at least a regular train service between the two.

[Better Believe It]

16. I agree. A very short run that doesn't make sense for "high speed" European style rail.

Twin Cities to Chicago with stops in cities in between that Amtrak serves(ed) would make more sense.

[customerserviceguy]

17. Agreed

I've been to Wisconsin, I cannot think of any place there I'd want to get to quickly!

[MadBadger]

18. Thats your loss

[customerserviceguy]

Don't get me wrong

Wisconsin is a nice place, it just seems that it is meant to be experienced at a leisurely pace. I lived in the Pacific Northwest three years ago, it deserves to be seen at regular railroad speed, too.

[MadBadger]

22. Probably cuz of all the Alcohol.

Anything faster and I spew.

[customerserviceguy]

25. Wisconsin and the Pacific Northwest

Good places to get a beer! I'd sure love some New Glarus, they don't sell it outside of Wisconsin!

[MadBadger]

26. You said the magic words, you are fine with me!

I could use a spotted cow. Only got to enjoy it for four years.

[TCJ70]

21. I bet the Twin Cities is the ultimate goal...

...and Madison is the first stopping point.

[MadBadger]

24. Thats what they are exploring

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. Fantastic. This needed to be done long ago country wide.

[hayu_lol]

8. Would have been better if the line went from...

Chicago to Appleton and from there to the Twin Cities. A line from Madison could be a later expansion--either to Milwaukee or directly to the twin cities or both.

The highest priority in the nation for bullet trains(high speed)would be in California because of the population density.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

9. I agree. It's nice to see it starting regardless.

[MadBadger]

13. Why Appleton? And they are going to explore connecting it with the twin cities.

[ibegurpard]

6. I'll take them at their word that it will create a lot of jobs

And for that reason I would support it but it seems like a strange place to put something like this. I agree with a previous poster that a line from milwaukee to chicago makes a lot more sense.

[MadBadger]

11. Well that would involved both Illinois and Wisconsin trying to secure funds.

[stevebreeze]

7. the amazing thing is trains USED to go that fast befor

The infrastructure has just so deteriorated that they no longer can. That and there are far more grade crossing now then 50 years ago.

[itsrobert]

12. 110 MPH? Too slow

You got to be kidding me.

[madrchsod]

15. madison to milwaukee-1 hr 21 min.

madison to chicago-2 hr 26 min

madison-milwaukee-chicago -3hrs

these are the average times by automobiles.

high speed rail will have to do a lot better than this to attract enough passengers to make rail worth the cost.

[democratus]

19. B

Boondoggle.

Let's talk public transportation for every citizen instead of high speed rail. These high speed trains will primarily be used by the leisure class. They will be funded by everyone. Profits will accrue to? That's an easy guess.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

20. Ding! Ding! Ding! Russ' hcr vote........ btw Just imagine high speed trains during the winter.

[Joe Fields]

23. that works out to $61,538.42 per job. not too unreasonable...

And I'm sure Wisconsonites can use the work.

However, I think that the money could be put to better use elsewhere, unless every state gets some high speed rail money, or funding for other types of work projects.