Tech | May 09, 2011 | 78 comments

Michigan to get more than $200M to boost high-speed rail service

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Source: Detroit Free Press

Michigan will get $200 million to upgrade rail lines and a share of another $336 million for new high-performance trains and other equipment to build a high-speed rail network between Detroit and Chicago, the Obama administration announced today.

The federal government is awarding $2 billion to expand high-speed rail nationwide, money that Florida turned back earlier this year, and Michigan was one of 24 states competing for the funding. The U.S. Department of Transportation said 15 states and Amtrak will receive money for 22 high-speed intercity passenger rail projects that the government said will connect 80% of Americans to high-speed rail in 25 years.


“These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and railcars,” Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20110509/NEWS05/110509013/... |topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
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78 comments // Michigan to get more than $200M to boost high-speed rail service

  • DominicBlackwellCooper
  • Warren_Merrill
  • VFORVENDETTA
  • KB723
  • remanns
  • KB723
  • ReMarker
    • +1
      ReMarker  

    • Good for Michigan.

      Florida's Gov. Scott turned down its 2 billion dollar rail deal. Scott is dumb as a stump.

      Ofc, Repubs. best chance of getting electorial control of America is to keep the economy bad.

      It's hard for me to understand how Repub. voters are so issue illiterate, or their reason must be trumped by some physco religious imperative like God will destroy America if we don't stop the gays.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • Warren_Merrill
  • ReMarker
    • 0
      ReMarker  
    • Warren_Merrill:

      The 2.4 billion had already been awarded to Florida for the high speed rail. Florida Gov. Scott blocked the project by refusing the money.

      Typically, your comments and/or replies are not factual.
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-02-16/news/fl-rail-reaction-feds-dems_1_hi...

      Gov. Scott refuses $2.4 billion in federal money for high-speed rail
      (February 16, 2011|By William E. Gibson, Sun Sentinel)

      U.S. officials and Democrats in Congress were shocked and appalled on Wednesday by Florida Governor Rick Scott's decision to decline federal high-speed rail dollars.

      "We are extremely disappointed by Governor Rick Scott's decision to walk away from the job-creating and economic-development benefits of high-speed rail in Florida," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We worked with the governor to make sure we eliminated all financial risk for the state, instead requiring private businesses competing for the project to assume cost overruns and operating expenses."

      "This project could have supported thousands of good-paying jobs for Floridians and helped grow Florida businesses, all while alleviating congestion on Florida's highways," said LaHood, a Republican. "Nevertheless, there is overwhelming demand for high-speed rail in other states that are enthusiastic to receive Florida's funding and the economic benefits it can deliver, such as manufacturing and construction jobs, as well as private development along its corridors."

      Florida Democrats were even more scornful.

    • 1 year ago
  • Warren_Merrill
    • 0
      Warren_Merrill  
    • ReMarker:

      I repeat, in addition to the money the federal government provides there are state spending mandates associated with taking the money. If you chose to ignore the truth it's your choice to remain ignorant of the facts. But I've never known liberals to let the facts get in the way of the reality they would like to see in their minds.

    • 1 year ago
  • figgdimension
  • figgdimension
    • +2
      figgdimension  
    • Image

    • These Fudge stikc come along and get voted in by zombie's and racist's and they cut worker right's drop super rail funding destroy all positive growth with backroom deals and selling our state resources I hate them we all want RAIL NOW!!!!!! Ohio is not YOURS to run into the dirt Bastards worried about womens womb's and not our state Hate him.... Mich you so lucky :(

    • 1 year ago
  • figgdimension
    • +2
      figgdimension  

    • I wish my state wasn't run by a human dildo and didn't refuse this wonderful advanced technology. We need super fast transportation between cities and free broadband for our Bis's to grow and compete I HATE YOU KASICH

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • ReMarker
  • tomoni
    • +2
      tomoni  

    • Good for them! Hopefully they don't give it back like the idiots from the Walker administration here in Wisconsin.

    • 1 year ago
  • Plue
  • KB723
  • Plue
    • +2
      Plue  
    • KB723:

      It should. Now we need to work on a mass transit system for the tri-county area (Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb). That would be a great help to those who work in the burbs who don't have a car. The bus system we have does the best that it can but it is not enough.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • TheAmbivalante
    • 0
      TheAmbivalante  

    • Enjoyed them in the TriState area. Made life easy. Very easy. I read for an hour before going to work. Now I commute by car. I arrive at the office irritated. Back then, I got there fresh and very informed.

      Hey wait, maybe that's why the Tea Baggers and other morons don't want rail. They don't want people reading about their corporatist agenda.

      GO RAIL!!!

    • 1 year ago
  • dugdog47
    • +2
      dugdog47  

    • I drove sraight from oklahoma down to southern Texas last september. What's with all those half finished ramps all over the place? Seems like every major city had about five incomplete cloverleafs.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • bailey78
  • KB723
  • bailey78
  • KB723
  • dugdog47
    • +3
      dugdog47  

    • I hate to sound socialist, but if we had trains going anywhere you wanted to go, freeing us from the burden of having to own cars, our country would rock! You could still have a car if you wanted, but it wouldn't be absolutly neccesary like it is today.

      If my car breaks down or gets stolen, I'm screwed. I love being free to drive wherever I want, when I want, but mainly I only drive to work and back. Car ownership shouldn't be required just to live.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • dudefromtherock
  • KB723
  • dugdog47
    • +4
      dugdog47  

    • Man, if only we could've had Obama in office when there weren't any wars going on. Just think about all we could accomplish with a billion dollars a month if it wasn't being squandered over seas.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • northernexpat
    • +2
      northernexpat  

    • This is great for Michigan and the country. I heard that a lot of this had to do with the Mayor of Detroit based on what Ray LaHood said on Hardball. From what I have heard about this mayor he is such a contrast from Snyder. I actually happen to hear him give his State of Address after he was sworn in when I was scrolling through the channels. He made more sense then half the new governors and had a vision which was the opposite from Snyder's.

      Like Rachel Maddow likes the say, "infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure" is what is needed to put people back to work.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • RMattnerTours
    • +4
      RMattnerTours  

    • This is so cool the right thing to create jobs and protect the environment. This prooves the power of internet lobbying and blogging. I am very proud.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • letsliveinpeace
    • +5
      letsliveinpeace  

    • I posted this article Early. I don't think it got any views but I didn't check. It's good you posted it again, a must see article - this is very good news for Michigan I am happy for them.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • scooter3282
    • +6
      scooter3282  

    • This is definitely a sign that Snyder is beginning to realize he is fighting for his political life. He never would've done this under any other circumstances. Just like the Rep state senators in WI are now pretending to disagree with Walker on certain meaningless legislation, Snyder is trying to look like he's suddenly for receiving stimulus money. Hopefully the majority of Michigan voters will not fall for this ruse and still boot him out of office as soon as they can, despite this act of desperation on Snyder's part. Granted, the jobs will be a good thing for the state, but remember, Chris Christie stopped the construction of the tunnel between Jersey and New York in mid-stream after millions had been spent on in it. Never trust a Rep. It's always about political expediency and CYA.

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
    • +2
      KB723  
    • scooter3282:

      I agree scooter... Get the Ball rolling on both counts... Take advantage of the situation and get his ass out of town on the newly built High Speed Train/Rail...

    • 1 year ago
  • scooter3282
  • KB723
  • mspray11
  • KB723
  • ArchDruid
  • KB723
  • totally_dilapidated
    • +7
      totally_dilapidated  

    • boooo.... booooo on Michigan
      NO money from the Fed till Rick Snyder is deposed from the governors office

      He and his Republican legislature has created an anti-democratic state
      They have given the Emergency Financial Managers fascist powers

      An EFM can go into any community, town, city and replace the elected government with a single person in power

      Rick Snyder implemented this new fascist power in the town of
      Benton, Michigan
      The EMF dismissed the mayor and city council

      The reveal of this situation is even more than gross
      The EMF is a board member of a property development company that wants
      the lake shore front property of Benton.

      This is so grotesque, it's mind boggling to believe it's taking place in America.

      But, relief is on the march. The state Representatives in Congress came to Benton to school them on how to fight this fascist take-over of their town.

      The mayor and city council has refused to accept the EMF and sent a letter to the governor contesting the law.

      It is now heading to the courts...

      So, again... boooo booo on Michigan getting Fed money running a fascist state!

      *ohhh... don't get me started*

    • 1 year ago
  • KB723
  • artemis6
  • KB723
  • Leen61
    • +11
      Leen61  

    • That's some of WI's money that Walker rejected sighting Snyder's lead on rejecting Federal Funds. What fuckheads Walker AND Snyder are! Snyder is trying to save his ass now. Don't fall for it Michiganders! Still recall Snyder's sorry ass!

    • 1 year ago
  • tlbuffin
  • August_K
    • +5
      August_K  
    • Leen61:

      And the company (Talgo) that builds the high speed rail cars is now planning on moving it's building plant out of WI ........costing the people a loss of jobs.

    • 1 year ago
  • Leen61
  • Leen61
  • August_K
    • +8
      August_K  
    • tlbuffin:

      "What kind of moron turns down investment in jobs and improvements to a transportation system?"

      The kind the teapublican voters helped elect.
      Blue states are taking the money....California, Oregon and Washington did.

      Maybe it has to do with the fact that high speed rail will cost their energy/oil company friends money .......so they can't support it.

    • 1 year ago
  • tlbuffin
  • Leen61
    • +8
      Leen61  
    • August_K:

      Another reason Walker killed high speed rail (along with the obvious fact he's in the pocket of big oil) was the neighborhood Talgo is in. It was near the inner city in Milwaukee. He didn't want those kind of jobs for those kind of people, if you catch my drift...

    • 1 year ago
  • Leen61
    • +8
      Leen61  
    • tlbuffin:

      I know exactly how you feel, tlbuffin. That's why I have to attend the rally in Madison on Saturday. Got let it all out. He is a creep show and he is evil. No kidding. He wants to do as much damage as he can before January 2012. IMO, 2012 is not soon enough. It's too much time on his hands. In July, the Dems better take the majority back in the state Senate or Walker will go hog wild.

    • 1 year ago
  • SFirman
    • +5
      SFirman  
    • tlbuffin:

      Gov. Kasich of my state Ohio, turned down federal money for high speed rail. Strickland already had plans where the rail would be laid, where the cars would be built. I was disappointed. Jobs for a long time.

    • 1 year ago
  • SFirman
  • KB723
    • +2
      KB723  
    • Leen61:

      I just hope the folks in Michigan take advantage now and worry about getting Snyder out as well... They deserve both... Nice to see you Leen... =) Got your good news and I am Happy... =)

    • 1 year ago
  • Leen61
  • Leen61
  • KB723
  • Leen61
  • KB723
  • kennymotown
  • KB723
  • kennymotown
  • KB723
  • KB723
  • meddelem
  • SFirman
  • KB723
  • KB723
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