Over a Dozen States Get Wisconsin and Ohio’s High-Speed Rail Money

December 14th, 2010 by Zachary Shahan

As everyone is probably aware by now, the incoming governors of Ohio and Wisconsin, John Kasich and Scott Walker (respectively), have stated loudly and clearly that they don’t want high-speed rail (HSR) projects in their states. Even though these projects would create thousands of jobs, would help to modernize these states’ transportation systems, and federal funds would cover the majority of the capital expenses, Kasich and Walker have said that they don’t want the federal funds awarded to them for their major HSR projects.

Well, there are plenty of other states wanting that money and the federal government has not waited too long to redirect $1.195 billion from Wisconsin and Ohio to some of these other states. On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that this money would be redirected to the following states/projects in this manner:

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

I’m sure these states are happy to be getting a little more funding. “High-speed rail will modernize America’s valuable transportation network, while reinvigorating the manufacturing sector and putting people back to work in good-paying jobs,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I am pleased that so many other states are enthusiastic about the additional support they are receiving to help bring America’s high-speed rail network to life.”

And I can only feel a little sad for the people in Wisconsin and Ohio who are going to be missing out on these jobs and a head-start on the transportation system of the future…

As the U.S. DOT reports, Obama’s high-speed rail program “includes a 100 percent ‘Buy American’ requirement.”

Photo Credit: 棟樑‧Harry‧黃基峰‧Taiwan via flickr (CC license)

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Tags: California, Florida, HSR, Kasich, LaHood, north carolina, Obama, ohio, Ray LaHood, U.S. DOT, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Walker, Wisconsin

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.

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Bill

I only hope that the mob that voted for the reactive Walker appreciates what they gave up as they face the Memorial Day weekend traffic, the Labor Day traffic, and the Deer Season Weekend traffic. Sending a local company out of Milwaukee County with the job loss is a real Tea Party solution. I guess you showed us Scott. We’ll be watching the State of Wisconsin debt rate increase as it mirrors what you did to Milwaukee County. Only 3 more years of this stupidity.
jose

I’m guessing jobs nor improvement for the next generation is necessary. These projects would’ve produced home grown jobs and provide long-term employment.
Tea Party = ALL NOISE
Luke

Now why is this money divided up so unevenly? You can’t tell me that Iowa and Indiana are gonna be able to do a whole lot with barely $300K. But California can get $624 million?? I’m happy that this HSR is in the works, but I just don’t understand the money split.
- http://www.zacharyshahan.com Zachary Shahan
  
  I haven’t seen anything regarding the rationale for the split.
- Texrex96
  
  I thought that was intuitive… California is the largest state on this list both by land mass and population. I think it’s also safe to assume CA has the most ambitious rail plan. Lastly, we need to cash the worst.
Drew

Feel a little sorry for those of us in Minnesota, too. As an endpoint for some of that High Speed Rail goodness, WI has effectively given us the finger.
- http://www.zacharyshahan.com Zachary Shahan
  
  Yeah, I know. Really unfortunate for you all. I do feel bad for you.
- http://solar.calfinder.com/blog Taylen Peterson
  
  From MN myself originally, and seems like that’s a pretty common occurrence
  
  In all seriousness though, I was extremely disappointed because of that too. Chicago was the only direction that really made sense for MN (what else…St. Louis or KC?). Best they can do now is an intra-state system (F/M, Mpls, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, Winona, Morris, I-Falls) and let WI know what they’re missing out on. Imagine going from Fargo to Mpls in just over an hour (figuring in one or two stops) instead of the regular 3 (or longer in winter)!