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Posted on 12/09/2010 11:38:32 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Congressional sources say the Obama administration is taking $1.2 billion in high-speed rail money away from Ohio and Wisconsin and awarding it to projects in other states.
Wisconsin can keep only a fraction of the $810 million it won in federal high-speed rail money, while the rest will help fund train lines in California, Florida, Illinois and other states, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday.
Governor-elect Scott Walker had vowed to kill the planned 110-mph Milwaukee-to-Madison passenger train route that was to be funded with Wisconsin's share. Ohio Governor-elect John Kasich had issued a similar promise for a planned 79-mph line connecting his state's three largest cities, funded by $400 million in federal cash.
Now, almost all of the $1.2 billion from the two projects will be divided among other states. California is the big winner, with up to $624 million, followed by Florida, up to $342.3 million; Washington, up to $161.5 million; and Illinois, up to $42.3 million. Smaller amounts will go to nine other states.
The announcement from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood held out some hope that Wisconsin may not be on the hook for all of the $9 million or so it has already spent on the project, plus another $5.25 million in cancellation fees and other contractual commitments. Ohio was allowed to keep $15 million that had been committed for preliminary work, and the Federal Railroad Administration "will work with these states to determine whether they have already spent money under their contracts that should be reimbursed," the announcement said.
Walker called the decision a "victory," in a meeting with reporters in Pewaukee, because he called the rail line a symbol of excessive government spending.
The governor-elect said he talked with LaHood on Thursday morning and was assured that Wisconsin would not have to repay money already spent.
"That's the decision they've made and we're going to move forward," Walker said.
Wisconsin also was allowed to retain up to $2 million to fund upgrades on Amtrak's existing Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line. But that won't cover the $19.4 million cost of renovating the train shed at Milwaukee's downtown Amtrak-Greyhound station or the $52 million cost of building a new maintenance base for two newly purchased trains, two projects that would have been covered by the original $810 million.
Outgoing Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's administration had suggested Walker's stand also would jeopardize a separate $12 million grant for upgrades to a Hiawatha crossing and the platform at the Mitchell International Airport station, but the federal announcement made no mention of withdrawing that money.
Doyle called the loss of the high-speed rail funds a "tragic moment for the state of Wisconsin."
"Eight hundred and ten million dollars that would have gone to create thousands of jobs in Wisconsin will now create jobs in other states," he said in a written statement. "Bogus arguments that this money can be used for roads have been proven false . . . Together with many others I have worked hard to move Wisconsin into the future. I obviously am deeply saddened to see us take a major step backward."
Other Democrats were also swift to denounce Walker for stopping the train.
"This is nothing short of economic suicide," said a statement from state Rep. Tamara Grigsby (D-Milwaukee).
"A month before he's even been sworn into to office, Governor-elect Walker has lost good jobs for Wisconsinites," U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee said in a written statement. "He's denied our state an opportunity to be part of a new, nationwide transportation system that would have brought economic benefits along with it."
Just in case anyone missed it, Wisconsin now OWNS the Governorship, the House and the Assembly in our state!!
If it's 'Change' you want...She's a comin'! :)
(The GOP OWNS...)
Congrats on that accomplishment. Next, get rid of Herb Kohl.
Florida? Our new governor, Rick Scott, as already indicated that he will ax the high-speed rail boon-doggle here.
Willie Green will be deeply saddened.
Hawaii is set to blow at least $5 billion, of course with overruns and union corruption, the final cost will be twice that.
I floors me. Folks out here believe having a train will increase tourism. Really, folks are gonna come to Hawaii to ride the train? Really?
Quick! We need a dead woman or a live young boy... *SMIRK*
I think Willie got himself banned again...but nonetheless, he’s deeply saddened, LOL!
A strange new definition of High-Speed.
The general response I've seen was "It goes about driving speed on its own schedule and doesn't stop where it is convenient. Why wouldn't I just drive instead?" If it cut the travel time by half, then it might have gotten a positive opinion, but counting stops it was slower than driving between cities.
You need a fleet of yachts or a bunch of sea planes before you need a train, LOL! Your example really drives home what a boondoggle this is!
Why not just build a big-@ss bridge from CA out to you? LOL!
Love, love, love to visit your state, though. I’ll be back! :)
Gov Moonbeam can use it in California. They’re now planning a high speed government boondoggle train track from nowhere (Borden, CA) to nowhere (Corcoran, CA) a whopping distance of 54 miles. Trust me. No one wants to travel to either place. From, maybe.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_16808319?nclick_check=1
Great! Now Wisconsin will not waste Federal and State tax dollars.
Now to the unions.....(from Jsonline.com)
Governor-elect Scott Walker raised the possibility of essentially abolishing state employee unions on Tuesday as one option to control rising employee benefits costs and eliminate the state’s budget deficit.
Walker, a Republican, said he’s looking at a range of options that would weaken unions, including eliminating their ability to negotiate with the state.
“Anything from the decertify all the way through modifications of the current laws in place,” Walker said at a luncheon sponsored by the Milwaukee Press Club at the Newsroom Pub.
Lived in Kailua for 6 years; worked in downtown Honolulu. Would love to see them build a railroad over the Pali!!!
No...no trains in HI...except of course, for the "Sugar Cane Train"!!!
A local Conservative politician suggested an actual STUDY of how trains through Madistan would snarl and gridlock traffic. The DOT wouldn’t give him permission or a permit to do so, when he applied...
That speaks volumes!
We’ve been fighting for a north ‘Beltline’ around Madistan for decades. The semi truck traffic on major roads in town are tearing up our roads - and our Lame Duck Goobner (Diamond Jim Doyle) has STOLEN every DIME from our Transportation fund!
It’s really quite a mess...but thank goodness we’re stopping the high speed rail!
The money will be redistributed to Blue states. They will not stop spending or reduce debt.
The train route is to run from Kapolie to Waikiki, with a spur to Mililani. It will run through the airport to pick up the tourist. (former) Gov Lingle commissioned a study that was released just prior to Neil Ibeacommie becoming governor. It indicated the rail would cost more than projected, have fewer riders and take in much less revenue. All the newly elected pols blasted the study, including the new republican mayor. Just can’t deal with the truth.
6 Years fighting the Pali? You are tough cookie! I live in Ewa Beach and work in Wahiawa. I’m dependent on thebus.org. Grrrrrrr
(Side note: we had over 5,000,000 visitors last year, the bulk from Japan and South Korea. They crash in Waikiki, shop at Ala Moana then fly home. Weird!)
Wisconsin has no need for high speed rail. this was just a ploy to get the Wisconsin taxpayers to pay for the rail lines in Illinois. Having grown up in Wisconsin you can get from Milwaukee to Madison in less than 2 hours. i have been through Ohio on the tollway = there is no need for the high speed rail too.
It is not high speed rail that the liberals desire it is the desire for social engineering - get everyone to live on the rail line - no need for expressways and suburbs, no need for cars.
Social engineering Sucks
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