WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Herb Kohl today called Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to push for federal high speed rail funding for Wisconsin. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included $8 billion for high-speed rail projects. This $8 billion was designated for capital projects, and included three types of competitive discretionary rail grant programs – one of which was for high-speed rail corridor development grants.
Wisconsin applied for funding under the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program. According to the State’s application, this would create thousands of jobs in the state, along with clearing congestion on highways and airports and providing an environmentally friendly transportation alternative.
“Wisconsin has a long-standing commitment to making high-speed rail a reality. As part of the Midwestern Regional Rail Initiative, Wisconsin has been a leader in bringing high-speed rail to the Midwest,” Kohl said. “Cooperation at the state and federal level has laid the groundwork for investments in high-speed rail in Wisconsin.”
In April, 2009, Kohl and a group of 12 other Midwestern Senators signed a letter to President Obama asking that Midwestern rail corridors be considered for ARRA rail funding. Last November, Kohl and Sen. Russ Feingold sent a letter to Secretary LaHood in support of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s application to the Federal Railroad Administration for funding under the ARRA rail program.
ARRA requires that the funds be obligated by February 17th, and officials at the Department of Transportation have indicated to Kohl’s office that they hope to announce which states will receive funding by the end of the month.
