The rail system built with the $200M will purpotedly extend between Chicago and Detroit, and Michigan will receive a share of another $336M for the trains that will ride along this route.
This is part of the $2 billion that Florida turned down for their own federally funded high speed rail system earlier this year. That money has been divided amongst 15 states, including Michigan.
The Department of Transportation claims that these rails will provide access to 80% of Americans in 25 years. How exactly the creation of new railways (which will presumably built alongside or over existing track) is going to provide access to more Americans than current rail cars currently manage to provide, is never explained.
“These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and railcars,” said Vice President Joe Biden.
If you enjoy the content at iBankCoin, please follow us on Twitter
We don’t “do” trains. We’re supposed to drive everywhere as Henry Ford intended.
Current rails are geared towards freight. Speeds on those lines are terrible. As a result, passenger rail in the US is abysmal.
Found the article I read that in, was a couple of years ago.
http://www.slate.com/id/2218394/pagenum/all/#p2
It would make more sense to run that route from Chicago through Grand Rapids and Lansing and then Detroit. Doing just Detroit is idiocy at its finest. By the time the rail is done Detroit won’t even be there anymore at the rate things are progressing.
In any event, I think it’s a mistake for Rick to take the Washington handout because they always come with strings attached that cost you money in the long run. Besides $200MM will not even do the engineering, surveying and land procurement for the project let alone put down any track.
Stupidity.
Why not just collectively hit 200 mm Americans over the head with a lead sap and steal their $1?
It’d at least be more honest thievery.
______