From: Porter, Paulette (GOV)
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2010 4:28 PM
Subject: What the Governor's Talking about Today

What the Governor’s Talking about Today

Thursday, October 28, 2010

 

Governor Says $161 Million for High-Speed Rail Will be Transformational, Create Jobs

The governor today applauded the announcement from the Obama administration that Michigan will receive $161.1 million for three grants for high-speed rail projects that will support at least 1,200 jobs.  The grants are part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

 

The largest grant, for $150 million, will be used to improve rail services along a 135-mile section of track between Dearborn and Kalamazoo that is currently owned by Norfolk Southern Railway.  The grant includes funding for possible acquisition of track and infrastructure upgrades.  A second grant for $7.9 million will remove some of the conflicts between rail passenger travel and freight traffic on the West Detroit Connection. 

 

The two grants will improve both existing intercity passenger service and future high-speed intercity passenger service, as well as set the stage for regional services such as the proposed Ann Arbor-to-Detroit passenger rail service. 

 

A third grant, for $3.2 million, will produce a corridor investment plan for the Chicago-Detroit/Pontiac high-speed rail corridor.  This includes an environmental impact document that will help pave the way for increased speeds and frequencies on the route.  This is an important step for the overall success of the federally designated 304-mile high-speed rail corridor.

 

Key message:

 

 

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