INTRO: Michigan could gain hundreds of millions of federal dollars for passenger rail. That’s if it does the opposite of neighboring states. They are fighting The Obama Administration plan to use high speed rail to rebuild the economy. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus reports.
Michigan rail transport activists have been watching two neighboring states since the elections 2 weeks ago. Ohio was due to get $400 million in federal funds for high speed passenger service between Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Ohio’s republican Governor-elect is John Kasich.
“That train is dead. I said it during the campaign. It is dead. We are not gonna have it.”
Governor-elect Kasich is a Fox News talk show host. He’s said “I love the tea party.” He told NBC the train was one of the “dumbest ideas I’ve ever heard.” Kasich wants to keep the money for road maintenance.
The tea party express has also rolled to victory in Wisconsin……
Republican Governor-elect Scott Walker has told Washington he doesn’t want the $810 million planned for high speed service between Milwaukee and Madison. Walker too wants to spend the money on roads.
“We had assumed all along that we would have to be looking at several legal options to try to stop the train between now and January 3.”
But Walker won’t need to go to court now. The outgoing democratic Wisconsin governor has halted construction because of Walker’s intentions. Thousands of workers who started the project have been laid off. Tim Fischer is with the Michigan Environmental Council.
“There are considerable opportunities that might arise from Wisconsin and Ohio taking their state decades into the past with rejecting this money for high speed rail.”
Federal Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has told both states the money will only go to rail. New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, a democrat, has already asked LaHood for the unused money. Tim Fischer of the Michigan Environmental Council thinks Governor-elect Rick Snyder should ask for unused money too.
“If this $1.2 to $1.5 billion is regranted Michigan stands a good chance of getting some of this money.”
Washington has already pledged $161 million. It would speed up train service between Detroit and Kalamazoo. Yet the state needs to find $45 million matching dollars. Last Wednesday the democratic Michigan House of Representatives approved bonds to raise that money.
But the republican-led senate would have to pass a bill too. The legislative calender ends in two weeks. If the Michigan senate does approve rail bonding, that would guarantee the $161 million and clear the way for any extra millions that Ohio and Wisconsin give back.
Over the weekend in Durand, on the line between Lansing and Flint, The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers held its annual meeting. It was at the old station that was bought for $1 and restored 30 years ago. It’s also a train museum. Kids pump a billows that simulate a whistle. Doug Wilson came over from Sarnia, representing his group Transport Action Ontario. They want a faster line between Montreal and Chicago.
“On the highways it’s a free ride for automobiles. The highways are funded largely by government. The railways are funded largely by private operators.”
But even competing against huge subsidies for roads, rail is cheaper. Here’s an example. Upgrading the old tracks from Ann Arbor to Howell would take $32 million for 29 miles. Adding a lane on either side of US 23 from Ann Arbor to Brighton would cost $500 million for 20 miles.
“A lot of money is appropriated to repairing the roads. More of that money should go to developing trains in the state.”
Detroit attorney Kathleen Newell came representing Transportation Riders United.
“The citizens want travel by train. I’m convinced of that.”
It’s unclear if the republican leadership is convinced of that. Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop has photos of The Tea Party and of himself with Glenn Beck on his Facebook page. Mark Schauer was the democratic Congressman who pushed hardest to get the $161 million for high speed rail. But he just lost re-election to tea party favorite Tim Walberg. Maybe Walberg will try to get Snyder to give Michigan’s money back.
I am in favor of a new and improved rail system for Michigan.I know it will be well accepted by the majority of people.I was amazed when I visited Europe how easy it was to jump on a train to travel. It was cheap,scenic,stress free and fun (something Michigan could use right now).I wondered why we didn’t have a system like that? I saw many Seniors traveling who probably would have been home-bound or dependent on others without the trains.
If I hear one more anti-progress idea out of these Tea Baggers I’m going to spit up.That’s why their popularity is fading fast.
Let’s see what our politicians do with this wonderful idea and opportunity. Will they jump on the Tea wagon and vote for progress or will they blindly follow the group who have absolutely no good ideas,solutions or positive vision.
I guess we’ll soon find out.
Sorry..typo in my last post..someone talking to me,fixing dinner and I had to feed the cats.I was so fired up by this article I had to respond immediately.
Should say “Will they jump on the Tea Wagon and blindly follow the group who have absolutely no good ideas,solutions or positive vision or will they vote for progress.”
I don’t think anyone has ever accused the Tea Baggers of being progressive.I just hope they don’t take our state back to “The Good Old Days” that got us here.We need a lot of creative thinking and actions.. outside the box.
Diane,
Thank you for your input. Fiscal responsibility is a good idea. Many republicans had that before Ronald Reagan. See Reagan’s Budget Director David Stockman’s New York Times article on that subject. July 31.