MILWAUKEE – Gov. Jim Doyle and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced Thursday, Jan. 28, Wisconsin is receiving $823 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to build high-speed passenger rail service.

            Wisconsin is receiving $810 million to build high-speed passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Madison, including construction of track, passenger stations, signaling and other infrastructure improvements.

            The state is also receiving $12 million to install crossovers between Chicago and Milwaukee to improve service on this highly-popular route. The project is estimated to create thousands of jobs in Wisconsin in fields like construction, engineering, design and supply firms.

            “Through high-speed rail, President Obama is making a major investment in the future of Wisconsin’s economy,” Doyle said. “This is a major project that will create thousands of jobs in Wisconsin and invest in our long-term growth, connecting the major centers of commerce in Wisconsin and the Midwest. With the Obama Administration’s support, Wisconsin is poised to be the nation’s leader in high speed rail manufacturing. This was a national competition and the results clearly demonstrate that we put forth a very strong application.”

            In addition to Wisconsin’s funding, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has received $1 million to make final determinations on a route between Wisconsin and the Twin Cities. The study is the next step toward connecting Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison with the Twin Cities.

            Construction of the Milwaukee-Madison line is scheduled to begin by the end of 2010, and should be completed by January 2013. Wisconsin will also purchase two additional state-of-the-art train sets – for four total new sets – that will be assembled and maintained in Wisconsin. In addition, the state will invest in eight new energy-efficient locomotives that will be built in the United States – hopefully in Wisconsin. 

           SUMMARY IS AS FOLLOWS:

           Chicago - Milwaukee: Station construction, infrastructure enhancements, and signal and track improvements will increase on time performance and reliability and create the building blocks for future 110 mph service. The increased speed will eventually reduce travel time between the two cities by more than 30 percent.
           Milwaukee - Madison: Implementation of a new service by upgrading infrastructure along 80 miles of track connecting Wisconsin’s two largest cities. This project also includes new and refurbished stations, as well as positive train control. Approximately 76 percent of Wisconsin’s total population lives within 30 miles of the rail stations on this corridor.
           Madison - Minneapolis/St. Paul: Planning and environmental work will begin to lay the groundwork for connecting the rail line through Wisconsin to Minnesota at speeds of up to 110 mph. Several route alignments will be considered in the planning process. 

            For more information on the project visit  THIS SITE

            In July, Doyle signed an agreement with the Spanish train manufacturer Talgo to put two Talgo train sets into service in Wisconsin and to establish new assembly and maintenance facilities in the state. The rail car assembly plant will support the delivery of Talgo trains throughout the country.

            Officials estimated that over the next 10 years, high-speed passenger rail in Wisconsin will eliminate 7.8 million car trips, save 27.6 million gallons of fuel, eliminate nearly 270,000 tons of carbon emissions, and create more livable communities with less congestion.