TODAY'S TMJ4

Governor Orders High Speed Rail Work Stopped

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle was at the Capitol Thursday, but he would not take questions about why he called to halt all high speed rail work immediately.

First word came from the contractors Thursday, leaking info that the state ordered them to stop working on the new Milwaukee-Madison line.

TODAY’S TMJ4 obtained a copy of a memo distributed within engineering and construction firm HNTB.

“This requires all Consultant and State staff currently working on High Speed Rail projects to immediately stop work,” the memo reads. “At this time we are not sure if this is a short term, long term, or permanent stoppage.”

State and federal officials did not take calls about the move.

“In light of the election results, our agency will be taking a few days to assess the real world consequences, including the immediate impacts to people and their livelihoods, if this project were to be stopped,” DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi said in a statement.

Busalacchi refers to the election result that will put Republican Scott Walker in the governor’s office. Walker addressed Senate Republicans at the Capitol on Thursday. They are now in the majority. Every indication is that they will back Walker's effort to stop rail expansion not just temporarily, but for good.

"I don't want the taxpayers of this state stuck with a bill of anywhere from seven and a half to ten million dollars per year for a rail line when we have roads and bridges that need to be fixed today,” Walker told reporters.

But some Senate Democrats are critical of the governor’s move.

“I understand that the department wants to do it’s own due diligence, but I think we ought to be moving full speed ahead because this is something that the vast majority of Wisconsin wants,” said Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee).