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Midwest Rail &
Other Plans
Two significant studies and plans
for expanded rail service in Wisconsin now are
underway:
- The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative is a multi-state
proposal now in development. The Governor's Blue Ribbon
Task Force on Passenger Rail Service is focused primarily
on expanded service within the state. For more
information about both of these vital programs, follow
the links provided below or use your browser's back
option to return to the previous page you were viewing..
The High Speed Rail Investment Act (S. 250) would
authorize Amtrak to sell $12 billion in high-speed rail
bonds between FY 2001 and FY 2010. The federal government
would leverage this private investment in high-speed rail
by providing tax credits to bondholders in lieu of
interest payments. States would be required to match at
least 20 percent of Amtrak's share, ensuring that Amtrak
will invest these funds in only the most economically
viable projects. The state match would go into the escrow
account to pay back the principal on the bonds. The
High-Speed Rail Investment Act has support from a
bipartisan group of Senators representing every region in
the country. Companion House legislation has been
introduced by Reps. Amo Houghton (R-NY) and James
Oberstar (D-MN) and also has many co-sponsors. For more
information, see http://www.narprail.org/bills.htm#2
- For a list of reasons why ProRail believes people
should support the Midwest Rail proposal, follow the
"MRRI Benefits" link.
- Here's how Wisconsin's Congressional Delegation
stands on this legislation:
- Co-sponsors are:
- Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.)
- Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.)
- Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-2nd)
- Rep. Ron Kind (D-3rd)
- Rep. Gerald Kleczka (D-4th)
- Rep. Tom Barrett (D-5th).
- Non-signers to date are:
- Rep. Paul Ryan (R-1st)
- Rep. Tom Petri (R-6th)
- Rep. David Obey (D-7th)
- Rep. Mark Green (R-8th)
- Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-9th).
- The Wisconsin Rail Plans link also has more
information about Midwest Rail planning. The Midwest High
Speed Rail Coalition maintains its own Web site, at
http://www.midwesthsr.org.
- NARP
(The National Association of Railroad Passengers)
also provides a list of those cities, counties and others
who have expressed support for Midwest Rail.
- Finally, we provide a link to the "Stop
the Train Coalition," a website maintained by some
residents of Waterloo and Marshall, Wisconsin, who oppose
passenger rail service through their communities.
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