I saw this in the paper. I would guess that this will help existing/prospective bio-energy businesses in the region. No rail service for these areas would be a huge barrior. Great news.
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BF989V3U947
Regional rail service gets funding
Rail service in Chippewa and Barron counties received a boost from the latest appropriations bill recently approved by Congress.
The bill includes $2.45 million to help the Wisconsin West Rail Transit Authority (WWRTA) purchase and rehabilitate rail lines in Chippewa and Barron Counties. WWRTA is a joint effort by Chippewa and Barron counties created in 2001 to preserve and strengthen rail service in the counties.
The federal funds will help the authority move forward with a plan to upgrade to 25 mph the roughly 50 miles of existing track in Chippewa and Barron counties, U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a press release announcing the funding.
The rail lines serve local and regional businesses such as The Turkey Store, Bloomer Plastics and ABC Truss. The businesses require access to competitively priced transportation to receive raw materials and to ship their finished products.
State Sens. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and Pat Kreitlow, D-Eau Claire, were major backers of the funding.
Friday, December 21, 2007
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2 comments:
This is huge for this part of the state. We are looking forward to this opening up some really good opportunities here.
John,
You are so correct. I live in Cameron and we are pretty excited about this up here.
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