U.S. Department of Transportation Redirects $1.195 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funds

[MrsCorleone]

Elections have consequences. 

Newly elected Republican Wisconsin and Ohio Governors cancel rail projects in their states. No need for job creation on American soil as far as these asshats are concerned. No worries for them, since the transnationals, the Republican base, are raking in historical profits overseas now. Federal funding will now go to other states. I feel for the fine folks in WI and OH.  

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot20810.html

DOT 208-10
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Contact: Olivia Alair 
Tel: [phone]
U.S. Department of Transportation Redirects $1.195 Billion in High-Speed Rail Funds

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that $1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds originally designated for Wisconsin and Ohio will be redirected to other states eager to develop high-speed rail corridors across the United States. Wisconsin has suspended work under its existing high-speed rail agreement and the incoming Governors in Wisconsin and Ohio have both indicated that they will not move forward to use high-speed rail money received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  As a result, $1.195 billion will be redirected to high-speed rail projects already underway in other states.

Last year, the Obama Administration received a commitment from 30 domestic and foreign rail manufacturers to establish or expand their base of operations in the United States if selected for contracts building America’s high-speed rail network. These rail manufacturers and suppliers committed to not only locate in the U.S., but to ensure high-speed rail projects are built by American workers with American-made supplies. To deliver maximum economic benefits to American taxpayers, the Administration’s high-speed rail program also includes a 100 percent ‘Buy American’ requirement.

The $1.195 billion originally designated for those high-speed rail projects in Wisconsin and Ohio will now be used to support projects in the following states:

California: up to $624 million
Florida: up to $342.3 million
Washington State: up to $161.5 million
Illinois: up to $42.3 million
New York: up to $7.3 million
Maine: up to $3.3 million
Massachusetts: up to $2.8 million
Vermont: up to $2.7 million
Missouri up to $2.2 million
Wisconsin: up to $2 million for the Hiawatha line
Oregon: up to $1.6 million
North Carolina: up to $1.5 million
Iowa: up to $309,080
Indiana: up to $364,980

[WillParkinson]

1. I'm so sad for Wisconsin right now...

Mr. Walker was the wrong choice for Wisconsin and I believe we are going to pay even more for his intransigence in the long run.

[dembotoz]

5. yep, sucks to be us

and wrong way walker has just begun....

[napi21]

2. Why are these Pub governors against HS rail? I don't understand.

I would think any State would love what that would do for their citiens & their economy.

[FedUpWithIt All]

4. They are saying the money is not enough to cover the projects in full.

And that the state itself would be forced to divert other very essential funds to finish them.

[dembotoz]

6. they think it is socialism

any form of public transportation is fought here.

[HughBeaumont]

7. This state elected a former Fox News Commentator as governor.

This state, and Kasich the Fascist, believe that a corporate-run gubmint is the best kind of gubmint. And corporate-run gubmints run like a fat-trimming bizness have no time for fancy-schmancy programs that help people.

This state is loaded with Grade-A idiots who are going to pay a grave price for being slooooowwwww learners.

[MrsCorleone]

9. I know. I cannot believe that even given the " buy only USA" provision, they would still forfeit the

funds.

My only guess is that it's easier to get reelected when their constituencies are poor, scared and confused. Makes it easier to sell them on bad policies and politicians. The Boner is a good example. He doesn't give a flying fart about his district, yet he's reelected time after time.

[FedUpWithIt All]

3. Ohio really needed these jobs.

Really a bad scenario. There IS real need for money for existing infrastructure. But the rail work would have created jobs, just the same. I have heard the argument that the directed money would not go far enough, forcing these very economically depressed states to divert other important funds to complete the projects. Regardless, the loss of this money is really a blow to Ohio.

[Le Taz Hot]

8. Sorry, but Wisconsin cannot compete with

California in terms of population being served by high-speed rail. Not to mention jobs that California, ESPECIALLY the Central San Joaquin Valley (where the first run will originate), will create. I'm sorry for Wisconsin but currently, there is no way to get from the inland Central California to Los Angeles without taking a bus or car unless you first travel to the coast (usually a 2-3 hour drive). We've DESPERATELY needed high-speed rail for decades and I, for one, am glad it will FINALLY be a reality, hopefully in my lifetime.

[MrsCorleone]

10. I'm in CA, too, and I get what you're saying.

But, the Midwestern states desperately need a reconfiguration of their infrastruture in order to support commerce going forward. Am I glad that CA got extra funding? Yes, of course. But, I also know that continued economic anxiety in WI, OH, etc will lead to more bad political choices, which we'll all have to suffer.

:hi: