Milwaukee writer James Rowen has been sharply critical of the Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation's plan to expand I-94 from the Flatlands border to Milwaukee both at his blog as well as in a recent opinion piece for The Cap Times. The project would last about 8 years and cost an estimated $1.9 billion. In addition, the plan excludes funding for public transportation for the SE corner of our fair state.
With this in mind I read that on 4 February President Bush's budget request slashed Amtrak funding by $525 million or 40%. Congress is now considering H.R. 6003 which would restore funding, improve Amtrak, and move the process forward of creating a better national passenger railway system. Right now the only Cheesehead in the House co-sponsoring the bill is Rep. Steve Kagen who represents the northeast part of the state, including Green Bay. Check out this action alert from the National Association of Railroad Passengers.
While there's nothing in the bill to extend service to Madison, we should try to convince Tammy Baldwin to get aboard and derail the Republicans' attempt to kill Amtrak.
(And yes, I've been thinking about Whiskeytown lately.)
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