December 21, 2007

                                         

Jauch and Kreitlow Applaud Obey for securing $2.5 million
for Barron/Chippewa County Rail Program

 

MADISON--Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) today praised Congressman Dave Obey for his work to include $2.45 million in the FY08 Omnibus Appropriation Bill for the Western Wisconsin Rail Transit Authority (WWRTA). The funds will be combined with state and local commitments to purchase and rehabilitate freight rail lines in Barron and Chippewa Counties. The overall cost of the project is estimated at over $16 million and will be finished in three to four phases.

"This funding is a substantial boost to the WWRTA's plans for rehabilitation of rail infrastructure in Barron and Chippewa Counties,” said Senator Jauch. “Work on this critically important project will be accelerated because of Congressman Obey’s successful efforts to target federal dollars to northwestern Wisconsin."

WWRTA is applying for funding from the Wisconsin Freight Rail Preservation Fund, a program that Jauch and Kreitlow worked to increase funding for during the state budget process earlier this year in anticipation of the WWRTA request. The state has already committed $4.8 million in funding to this project.

“Projects of this magnitude need support from all levels of government,” said Senator Kreitlow. “Barron and Chippewa Counties have made a significant financial commitment, and at the state level, we’ve worked to ensure that the Wisconsin Freight Rail Preservation fund has the funding needed to support this project. Through Congressman Obey’s commitment to our area and his work in securing this funding, we have another crucial piece of this puzzle in place.”