| Today, a very shocking thing happened...
No the Lions didn't win. Kwame hasn't admitted to lying. Nor has Virg Bernero surged to a 5-point lead.
Michigan, our Michigan, automotive capitol of the world, home of the "just buy a car and put gas in it -- that will fix the economy." THAT Michigan, has finally joined the 21st century.
Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded Michigan a $150 million federal grant for high-speed railroad passenger service between Detroit and Chicago.
The grant provides money to purchase tracks and upgrade rail infrastructure along a 135-mile corridor between Dearborn and Kalamazoo. The result will be a trip from Detroit to Chicago in about 3 hours and 45 minutes - shaving 90 minutes off the existing travel time.
Policy and transportation planners across the globe have ranked the Detroit-to-Chicago rail corridor as one of the most viable route in the nation. MDOT has said that it could complete this corridor within 24 months, putting Michigan in the position of doing high-speed rail faster and more cost-effectively than any other region.
The grant application was endorsed by a bi-partisan group of 61 state legislators who signed a letter of support that was delivered to the U.S. Department of Transportation by Congressman Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek.
Here in Michigan, we have been fortunate enough to have strong bi-partisan support for high speed rail. Our congressional delegation on both sides of the aisle understands fully how important this money is to creating jobs and jumpstarting our economy.
Representatives listed as voting for high-speed rail funding includes:
• Mark Schauer -D
• Gary Peters -D
• Candice Miller -R
• Sandy Levin -D
• Vern Ehlers -R
• John Conyers -D
• John Dingell -D
• Fred Upton -R
Let's give these fine folks a hand. And bask in our good news for a while. |
