While new Wisconsin and Ohio Republican governors are not supportive of high speed rail and my try to steer their state's high speed rail awards for road purposes, the new Republican governors of Iowa and Michigan appear to be Amtrak supporters.
Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad may very well utilize the $230 million award announced by D.O.T. on Oct. 28 for improved Amtrak service between Chicago and Iowa City as it was intended. Ditto for Michigan Governor-elect Rick Snyder with his state's $161 million award to upgrade the Amtrak line between Chicago and Detroit.
"In Ohio, Mr. Kasich has said the proposed $450 million train connecting Ohio's three major cities-Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati-would cost too much and run too slowly to be more convenient than driving or flying.
Wisconsin's Scott Walker made opposing the train, which he deemed too expensive, a major part of his campaign. He has said he would like Congress to allow him to use the $810 million allocated to Wisconsin for a high-speed line between Madison and Milwaukee to repair the state's roads and bridges instead.
The governors' races in Illinois and Minnesota remained too close to call Nov. 3."
Thanks to Peter Flieg
Read the full story: New Midwest Governors Could Derail High-Speed Trains
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