Wisconsin Governor Doyle Discusses High Speed Rail with Vice President Joe Biden in Washington, D.C.

June 03, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today met with Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Washington, D.C. to discuss opportunities for high speed rail projects in Wisconsin. The Governor has been working to bring high speed rail to Wisconsin and compete for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for high-speed passenger rail.

“There is a real opportunity for Wisconsin and the Midwest to become a leader in high speed passenger rail,” Governor Doyle said. “We need good, modern rail to revitalize our country’s infrastructure and economy. Wisconsin already has good infrastructure in place so we could move quickly to develop a high-speed rail network and in turn reduce highway and airway congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”

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In April, Governor Doyle, seven other Midwestern governors and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley sent a letter to Secretary LaHood to show bipartisan support for 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.

A Midwestern high speed rail 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.

Also attending today’s meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building were: Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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

Source: Wisconsin Governor