Schauer Helps Secure 3,300 High Speed Rail Jobs for Michigan
HSIPR grants will boost local economy, improve 135 miles of track that run from Kalamazoo to Dearborn
BATTLE CREEK,
Oct 25 -
Today Congressman Mark Schauer (D-MI) announced high speed rail grants that will bring an estimated 3,300 jobs to Michigan and make improvements to 135 miles of track running from Kalamazoo to Dearborn. Schauer worked with United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Ray LaHood to help the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) secure these High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) grants, which are part of the FY 2010 Transportation budget.
“These grants will help create 3,300 jobs right here in Michigan while making improvements to the I-94 high speed rail corridor,” said Schauer. “The economic impact of growing our high speed rail infrastructure is tremendous, and this investment will help expand passenger rail capacity, increase the mobility of our workforce, and create more jobs in Michigan for our workers.”
MDOT was awarded $150 million to improve the 135 miles of track that runs through Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Albion, Jackson, Ann Arbor, and Dearborn. These improvements will stabilize this segment of the corridor and restore intercity passenger rail speeds to 79 mph, with a plan to eventually reach speeds of up to 110 mph.
Schauer is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and its Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
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