The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Bob Harlow, a 2018 Democratic candidate in the race for Governor, is causing quite a stir with plans to install a high-speed bullet train for public transport.
After its initial proposal in 2010, the bullet train was denied by Wisconsin’s current Governor Scott Walker and the plans fell to the wayside.
On Nov. 25, Harlow brought the bullet train back into the spotlight by tweeting, “I will partner with MN, IL & the federal government to build our nation’s first 200 mph high speed rail network.”
Harlow estimates that the construction of the bullet train will cost individual Wisconsin taxpayers $4.31 per year over a period of 40 years after factoring in contributions from Minnesota, Illinois and the Federal Government.
The train will connect Wisconsin’s major cities such as Milwaukee, La Crosse, Sheboygan and even Stevens Point to each other and cities outside of the state like Minneapolis and Chicago, to improve the speed and convenience of public transportation.
The plan comes as part of Harlow’s larger goals to create 35,000 jobs through investment in Wisconsin’s infrastructure.
Harlow’s website states that these jobs will be created by “bringing 1 Gb internet to every home, building 200 mph high speed rail that connects our region, modernizing our highways to be safer and more efficient, and by making Wisconsin 30 percent renewable by 2030.”
Students are particularly excited about the train, especially those without cars because it opens another form of transportation, making affordable and fast transportation available for everyone.
“That sounds incredible,” said Corrine Schultz, senior psychology major.
Apoorva Sarmal, senior French and business major and environmental rights activist, said anytime public transportation is used in place of individual transportation, it makes a difference for the environment.
“Public transport of any kind is the best,” Sarmal said.
Olivia De Valk
Reporter
odeva199@uwsp.edu
Far from being a bullet train, the Hiawatha service extension to Madison that Walker threw out was just an enhanced conventional train that would go 110 mph. By federal law, faster speed than 110 mph requires total grade separation, i.e. no road/railroad crossings. Construction of a true high speed line would be quite expensive, and unfortunately too many Americans know the cost of everything and the benefit of nothing.