Derailed High-Speed Rail Costs Wisconsin Jobs and Economic Growth

Milwaukee – Wisconsin has to play catch-up as the state has been left behind by its Midwest neighbors in high-speed rail, says Howard Learner, executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC).

The ELPC is expanding its advertising campaign in Wisconsin, erecting another billboard south of Milwaukee to encourage political leaders to support high-speed rail.

Learner says it’s time to put partisan politics aside. “Even though Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson and Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle were strong advocates of advancing high-speed rail in Wisconsin, Gov. Walker made the quixotic decision to turn down funding for higher speed rail going from Milwaukee to Madison that would have created jobs in Wisconsin,” says Learner.

Gov. Scott Walker turned down $810 million in federal stimulus money in 2010, saying state taxpayers would be on the hook for millions more in the years to come. Now, that money has gone to Michigan, where Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is using it to beef up connections between Detroit and Chicago.

Learner says it’s not just about Madison and Milwaukee; high-speed rail would pull the entire region together.

“This is a time to put the ideology behind and for Wisconsin to say we want the better transportation, we want the jobs, we want the economic connectivity and growth that comes from modern higher-speed rail development,” says Learner. “The Gov. needs to go to Washington and say, ‘let’s step up and get Wisconsin back on track.'”

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn of Illinois recently announced the state is allocating an additional $102 million for the high-speed line that connects Chicago to St. Louis. In Minnesota they’re planning for a Zip Rail high-speed train that will connect the Twin Cities to Rochester.

According to Learner, Wisconsin has the opportunity to play catch-up and move forward, because it’s all about regional development. “Connecting the Twin Cities to Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago, but also the cities in between that are being cut off from air services, where people face congestion delays and high prices of gasoline, and La Crosse, Brookfield, Oconomowoc, connecting those mid-size cities to the larger communities,” says Learner.

The Amtrak passenger train that runs between Chicago and Minneapolis is now regularly delayed because of the huge amount of rail freight carrying Wisconsin frac sand, and the oil from North Dakota that results from fracking.

ELPC Action Fund

35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1600

Chicago, Illinois  60601

Phone: (312) 673-6500 – Fax: (312) 795-3730 – ELPCActionFund.org

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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