Gov. Walker’s budget includes money for freight rail

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker plans to invest $6.4 billion in Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure, including $60 million for the Freight Railroad Preservation Program (FRPP).

“My budget will invest in Wisconsin’s strong network of roads, bridges, highways, ports, airports and freight rail,” said Gov. Walker. “We are investing for the long term. An efficient, safe transportation system is necessary for growing our economy and creating jobs.”

The FRPP provides grants to local units of government, industries and railroads for the purpose of preserving essential rail lines and rehabilitating them following purchase.

Since 1980, some $155 million in grants have been awarded for rail acquisition and rehabilitation projects.

The FRP grants cover up to 80 percent of the cost to purchase abandoned rail lines in an effort to continue freight service, or for the preservation of the opportunity for future rail service and to rehabilitate facilities, such as tracks or bridges, on publicly-owned rail lines.

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