We have two diametrically opposed perspectives on economic development in Wisconsin, that of the GOP represented by gubernatorial candidates Scott Walker and Mark Neumann versus that of Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, when it comes to the importance of high speed rail in Wisconsin. On the one hand, you have GOP candidates demonstrating their lack of vision and on the other, you have the Democratic candidate alongside current Governor Doyle recognizing the importance of high speed rail as part of an overall economic development platform. The GOP candidates represent a party that has moved away from growth and development to retrenchment (unless it means tax cuts for their “chronies” or big $ investments in roads).
In this video discussion, Tom Barrett provides his perspectives on high speed rail, including the immediate jobs value for those who will work building the railroad, the role that the railroad will play to tie together our region, and the immediate benefits of directly connecting the two largest cities in the state. He also discusses how the railroad strategy resulted from a bi-partisan vision of the future (remember Tommy Thompson and his support for railroads?) and that even today the Republican Mayors of Watertown and Oconomowoc fully support high speed rail based on the economic development potential for their cities.
Let’s support high speed rail and support Tom Barrett too.
Interesting side note: Tommy Thompson was a supporter of trains, going so far as to commission a Blue Ribbon Task Force to study the issue.
Not enough people are going to ride it and it’s going to cost us all a lot of $$$.
On a side note: Happy Tax Freedom Day!
I am not against rail but I believe it needs to make sense where it is done and questions of viability truly need to be answered before jumping in to build it.
1. How “high speed” can it really be if it is making numerous stops like in Watertown and Oconomowoc? How much time am I going to save vs. car travel?
2. How much is it going to cost me to ride it? It needs to be cheaper than the gas and parking cost I would have spent by car, because when I get to either city I am going to need to spend $ on a cab or bus to get me to my particular destination(s). Liberal answer: jack up the cost of parking in both cities and/or heavily subsidize buses and cabs to give them appearance that it will be cheaper and viable.
3. How many people are going to ride on a regular basis (daily/weekly)? Because I’ll probably only do it like once a year — maybe. There is Badger Bus that already provides this service. How is rail better than existing service?
4. How much will the state need to subsidize it year in and year out? Where is this money going to come from? Don’t tell me that we subsidize roads too because I pay for roads via the gas tax (proportional to my use of roads) and registration fees. Therefore there must be a rail tax or fee paid for by users of rail (another fund must not be robbed to pay for this program.)
I don’t think these are unreasonable questions. Satisfy me on answers to them and you likely have a new supporter of this project.