U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood, Governor Doyle Sign Agreement for $46.5 Million for Wisconsin High-Speed Rail
State Has Received $52.2 Million of $822 Million Awarded from Economic Recovery Act
Thursday, July 29, 2010
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today signed an agreement providing $46.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds for work to continue on the state’s aggressive high-speed rail program. The funding is the latest installment from the $822 million that President Obama announced for Wisconsin high-speed rail from the Recovery Act in January.
Wisconsin previously received a $5.7 million Recovery Act grant that brings their high-speed rail total to $52.2 million. Nationally, an unprecedented $8 billion down payment for the creation of a national network of interconnected high-speed rail corridors was included in the Recovery Act.
“President Obama’s bold vision for high-speed rail is a game-changer for transportation in Wisconsin and the United States,” said Secretary LaHood. “This undertaking is not only creating good jobs and reinvigorating our manufacturing base, it’s also going to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Under the grant agreement, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will complete preliminary engineering and final design work, conduct program management activities and complete environmental management plans for the Milwaukee to Madison high-speed rail corridor that will operate at speeds of up to 110 miles per hour.
“The construction of the Chicago to Madison line will create thousands of jobs over the next few years. Because of everyone’s hard work, and because of President Obama’s vision and investment, Wisconsin will see the long-term economic benefits and thousands of new jobs from the construction of high speed rail,” said Governor Doyle.
The previous grant obligation of $5.7 million is currently funding environmental assessments of planned new stations between Milwaukee and Madison.
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Railroad Administration
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Washington, DC 20590
THUD press Statement
| Budget Authority Only | Total Resources | |
| FY 2010 Enacted: | $67.9 billion | $122.1 billion |
| FY 2011 Request | $68.7 billion | $123.2 billion |
| Subcommittee Mark | $67.9 billion | $122.5 billion |
Washington, DC - Overall, the fiscal year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes budget authority of $67.9 billion, unchanged from the fiscal year 2010 enacted level. Total funding, including limitations on obligations related to programs funded by the Highway Trust Fund, is $122.5 billion. The total funding level is $0.3 billion or 0.26 percent above the equivalent 2010 enacted level, and $0.7 billion or about 0.59 percent below the President’s Request.
The bill helps our communities and transportation system by focusing on five priority areas:
- Investing in transportation infrastructure;
- Providing housing and services to our Nation’s most vulnerable;
- Supporting our communities and addressing the foreclosure crisis;
- Ensuring the safety of our transportation system; and
- Promoting sustainability in our communities.
Map of high speed rail projects and funding.
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