Officials sign high-speed rail network agreement

Talk about it

Officials from Wisconsin, seven other states, and Chicago have signed an agreement to pursue a high-speed passenger rail network.

The proposed line from Milwaukee to Madison will be one of three top priorities.

Wisconsin’s Jim Doyle joined four other governors and rail executives at a summit in Chicago on Monday.

The officials signed a memorandum of understanding that three other governors signed earlier.

They vowed to seek $3.5 billion in federal stimulus money which would be the lion’s share of $8 billion available for high-speed rail projects nationally.

Several governors mentioned President Obama’s strong support for the Midwest effort. But it has lots of competition, as 40 states have requested money for 278 projects costing as almost 13 times as much as the available stimulus money.

The Midwest line would cover 3,000 miles in nine states.

In Wisconsin, it would go from Kenosha to Milwaukee to Madison and then to Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

A northern spur is included from Milwaukee to Green Bay.

The governors agreed on three segments as top priorities, including the Milwaukee to Madison line that would cost $519 million.

Their goal is to have it built in 3-5 years.

The other top lines are from Detroit to Pontiac Michigan, and Chicago to St. Louis.

Tags: high speed rail, wisconsin, agreement