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4/3/2010
Rep. Montgomery: Stop the high-speed train in its tracks
For decades, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) has worked diligently to plan out the state’s future transportation infrastructure needs. Based on revenue projections, the DOT allocates money from the state’s Transportation Fund for road construction, repair and maintenance, local mass transit, air and rail service as well as bicycle and pedestrian travel. Lawmakers review these plans and make adjustments through the state’s biennial budget.
A confluence of recent events serves as a not so subtle reminder of the challenges ahead. On the revenue side, our state’s Transportation Fund is facing a $30 million deficit. This deficit is likely to grow in the near term because the two primary revenue sources to the Fund, gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, typically go down during tough economic times. On the expenditure side, we are facing larger than expected road repair expenses. Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation was forced to spend an additional $15 million to prevent roadways and bridges from collapsing along a stretch of the state’s busiest interchange in the metropolitan Milwaukee area. Add to that the uncertain costs to the state associated with the new $810 million high-speed passenger rail service between Madison and Milwaukee. At this point, we know the state will be on the hook for at least $7.5 million in annual passenger fare subsidies.
Reconciling the income and expense side of the Transportation Fund balance sheet won’t be easy. Of course, Madison lawmakers will argue for higher gas taxes and higher vehicles registration fees to get out from underneath this problem. I think a more prudent course of action is warranted. Let’s start by focusing on fixing the roads and filing the potholes at the state level. And, let’s stop the high-speed train in its tracks for now.
Yesterday, I became a co-author of legislation to prohibit any further expenditure of state, federal or local funds for any costs related to the Madison-Milwaukee high speed passenger rail service project. Under this proposal, future funding of the project would require legislative approval and the backing of the Governor. It is my hope that this proposal will be available for action when the legislature reconvenes on April 13. We can’t wait until next year to start fixing the state’s Transportation Fund.
Phil Montgomery is a Republican and represents the residents of the 4th Assembly District (Green Bay).
COMMENTS
I am with you 100% on this. Thank you for taking that stand. High speed rail is the most absurd and expensive boondoggle that they could have dreamt up.
Steve Erbach
Neenah
Steve Erbach (Tue Apr 06 10:38:10 2010)
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