In a seemingly unending political soap opera of surprise twists and turns, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle agreed to let Gov.-elect Scott Walker dictate the future of high-speed rail in Wisconsin. Doyle, the outgoing Democratic two-term governor, has in effect cemented the fate of any possibility of getting high-speed rail in Wisconsin in the near future.
In one day, out the next
In a surprise, behind closed doors move last week, Doyle signed agreements with the federal government committing Wisconsin to spending the entire $810 million grant on the rail project. Since then, bowing to intense political pressure from Walker, train opponents, and other political figures in Madison, Doyle has backtracked to the point of putting the project on hold indefinitely until Walker is sworn in as Wisconsin's next governor in January. Walker has campaigned against high-speed rail for months (please see video) and has vowed to kill it if elected governor.
As published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Doyle stated, "I have put the project on pause, so that the U.S. (Department of Transportation) and the governor-elect can confer about the future of the high-speed rail project. If Governor-elect Walker opposes the project, U.S. DOT has made it clear that the money will go to one of the many other states that intend to move forward with high-speed passenger rail."
States vie for funding
A number of states have already written Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood requesting the funding designated for Wisconsin should the state refuse it. Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) wrote the federal government late last week articulating New York's interest in high-speed rail.
Joining New York in the fray is Illinois, who also made a public statement showing their support for a similar project within their borders. As published in JSOnline, Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said in reference to the federal funding, "We'd love to have it. If the new governor of Wisconsin is overwhelmed by $800 million of federal funds, we'd be happy to take that burden off his back." Illinois has already received $1.2 billion in high-speed rail funding from the federal government and would use Wisconsin's share to enhance and expand the Chicago-St. Louis corridor.
Walker, who continues to feverishly plead his case for keeping the unspent money in Wisconsin to be re-allocated for repairs to bridges and roads, maintains that the high-speed rail project will put too much burden on Wisconsin's taxpayers. The federal government has agreed to pay 100% of the construction costs for the train ($810 million), and has stated that they could cover up to 90% of the annual operating costs to maintain the train, which Walker estimates to be around $7.5 million. The only stipulation would be that Wisconsin must continue to operate the Milwaukee-Madison line for at least 20 years or would be subject to financial penalties.
Can the funds remain in Wisconsin?
In response to Walker's desire to re-allocate the federal funding, LaHood sent Walker a letter informing him that this was not an option. As published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, LaHood wrote to Walker stating, "None of the money provided to Wisconsin may be used for road or highway projects, or anything other than high-speed rail. Consequently, unless you change your position, we plan to engage in an orderly transition to wind down Wisconsin's project so we do not waste taxpayer's money."
All is not lost for Walker and supporters of the re-allocation of funds, however. Because the federal funding was designated for national high-speed rail projects by Congress, it would take an act of Congress to allow for states to use the funds for a purpose other than what they were originally intended for. Following the Nov. 2 elections, Republicans now command a strong majority in the House of Representatives and a near majority in the Senate, making the chances of this event, although not guaranteed, a much more plausible possibility than just a few short weeks ago.
If the project does not go through as was initially intended, Wisconsin will face some economic effects almost immediately. Currently on hold and awaiting a decision on the high-speed rail line are $130 million in contracts and 412 jobs with nine companies. Of those 412 jobs, more than 80 are currently held by state employees that most likely would be lost without the contract.
The federal government, governors across the nation, and Wisconsin state employees will be anxiously monitoring Walker's every move until a conclusion is reached.
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