Local Leaders to DOT officials, Gov.-Elect Walker
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Broad-based Support for Passenger Rail in Chippewa Valley
WISPIRG
Eau Claire, WI – A broad coalition of local business, government, environmental, and public interest leaders gathered last night to express their support for inter-city passenger rail in Wisconsin. Their statements were a prelude to a public meeting hosted jointly by MnDOT and WisDOT to gather public input on the future of passenger rail connections between the two states. The group’s message to DOT officials, and to Governor-elect Walker is clear: support for rail is strong across the state and especially in the Chippewa Valley. The message was reinforced by over 200 attendees who came to the meeting.
“Providing mobility and choice are worthy goals and providing transportation options was and is necessary to improve access to jobs, labor markets, moving goods and services and encouraging economic development” said Eau Claire City Council member Jackie Pavelski. Pavelski was one of the co-sponsors of a resolution that the Eau Claire City Council passed unanimously supporting the continuation of high speed rail in Wisconsin.
The statewide public interest organization, WISPIRG also weighed in saying that more than 350 business owners across the proposed Twin Cities-Milwaukee corridor have signed on in support of high-speed rail. Over 50 of those signed on operate in the Chippewa Valley. “These business owners are embracing high-speed rail for what it is – a critical step towards modernizing our transportation system, creating jobs and growing our economy. Wisconsin can’t afford to miss this opportunity.” said Shannon Nelson, WISPIRG Program Associate.
Also present at the meeting were Bob McCoy, President of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Ray Willoughby, President of Alliance Bank-Wisconsin Region and Mike Schatz, Executive Director of Downtown Eau Claire Inc. They too stressed the need to stay viable in a fast-paced economy and support passenger rail for its connectivity to economic centers. Barb Thomas, Chair of the Sierra Club’s Chippewa Valley group weighed in on the environmental benefits of rail, from diverting trips off the highway to lowering carbon emissions.
Scott Rogers, Chair of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition noted that although the group of business, government, environmental, and community leaders may not agree on everything, rail is one issue they can all support. “When you look at the list of organizations represented here today, you may recognize right away that we don’t all agree on every public policy issue. But one thing we do agree upon is that passenger rail will be an important part of our region’s future, and we need to continue Wisconsin’s leadership in developing high speed rail,” said Rogers.
The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is a committee of Momentum West, the 10-county economic development organization that is working to foster a vibrant economic future for our region by emphasizing Talent, Technology and Transportation.
”If we want people and companies to ‘Choose West Wisconsin,’ we believe high speed rail connections are necessary to make us competitive in the 21st Century,” concluded Rogers.
