LANSING – State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) today hailed the Governor's recent endorsement of a partnership between Michigan and several other states to fund a regional high-speed rail plan that will connect cities throughout the region, spurring economic development and creating jobs for Michigan workers.
"I applaud the Governor for her leadership in transportation," said Donigan, a member of both the House Transportation Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. "Public transportation has gone underutilized in Michigan for far too long. A strong, interconnected mass transportation system is absolutely vital to competing in the global marketplace and will trigger the economic development we need to turn things around here in Michigan."
On Monday, the Governor signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that establishes a partnership between eight states to work together to fund the Midwest Corridor, a regional high-speed rail plan that includes a Detroit-Pontiac-Chicago line.
Last week, Donigan attended the National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) Legislative Summit as a member of the NCSL's Standing Committee on Transportation. At the meeting, she shared ideas on shaping transportation policy with peers from around the country. According to Donigan, the MOU further positions Michigan and the region to receive part of the $8 billion in federal funding available for high-speed passenger rail development through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
"I came away from the conference encouraged that Michigan is in prime position to receive its share of ARRA funds and to help develop the mass transit infrastructure our residents deserve," Donigan said. "High-speed rail is paramount to connecting our local communities with our neighbors in the Midwest and attracting the job providers and industry we need to get our workers back on the job."