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IL Wants Share of Other State's Rejected Federal Dollars for High Speed Rail
(IRN)-Illinois is looking at all of the options when it comes to funding for high speed rail. That includes going to the federal government and asking for money that other states are now rejecting after a change in thinking following the elections.

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Governor Pat Quinn say they'll take the $810 million in federal high speed rail funds that Wisconsin Governor-elect Scott Walker has said he'll reject.

Walker made opposing a Milwaukee to Madison rail project a key part of his successful campaign against his Democratic opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who supported it.

Illinois has received $1.2 billion in high speed rail funding. Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig says the state could make improvements to the Chicago to St. Louis corridor with Wisconsin's money, and it could be used to build stations in Joliet and Rockford.

In Ohio, meanwhile, Republican Governor-elect John Kasich wrote to outgoing Democratic Governor Ted Strickland on Monday asking him to immediately cancel all passenger rail contracts to save taxpayer money.

Kasich sent letters to both Strickland and President Obama telling them he doesn't plan to support developing a passenger line connecting Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. Ohio has been allocated $400 million for that project.

But Illinois isn't the only state that wants Wisconsin and Ohio's money. New York Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo has expressed interest too.

(Illinois Radio Network)
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