Michigan Part of the Midwest Eight

Midwestern Governors Create High-Speed Rail Partnership

The Detroit News (7/28, Hornbeck) reports Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm "was among the governors to sign an agreement today setting up an eight-state partnership to work toward financing a regional high-speed rail plan for the Midwest. The system, which includes a Detroit-Pontiac-Chicago line, would connect cities across the region with frequent, high-speed and conventional inter-city rail service." The group "will coordinate the states' application for a share of the $8 billion in federal stimulus cash for rail projects."

What led to the spirit of cooperation among the states? According to The Infrastructurist's Daily Dig blogpost on July 17, there have been 278 applications to US DOT for stimulus funding for high speed rail projects. Read more about stimulus and high speed rail at: http://www.infrastructurist.com/2009/07/17/the-daily-dig-high-speed-rail-edition-10/