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Projects ready if funding comes through

JANESVILLE — About $49 million for Janesville area railroads, highways and bus systems was listed in the governor's request for federal money to pay for projects statewide as part of an economic stimulus package.

Gov. Jim Doyle included about $30 million for railroads in Rock and Walworth counties, $7 million for Highway 12 and Interstate 43 in Walworth County, $12.3 million for a transmission line near Brodhead and $143,000 for the Janesville Transit System in his request.

Wisconsin & Southern spokesman Ken Lucht said railroad work would mean instant jobs and material sales locally and domestically.

"This certainly will stimulate the economy if we give it a chance," Lucht said.

Wisconsin & Southern has projects that are planned and approved. They merely await funding, Lucht said. State grants and Wisconsin & Southern funding are available but are not enough to cover all the upgrades the railroad has in mind, he said.

"These are truly ready-to-go projects," Lucht said. "The permits are obtained, the projects planned. They are merely backlogged because of a lack of funding."

If the projects were approved, they would create 200 permanent and seasonal jobs in 2009 as well as $125 million in domestic materials—many bought locally, Lucht said. If projects extend into 2010, they would create another 100 jobs, he said.

The ability to support local jobs and businesses was one reason the state chose to go into partnership with the railroads, Lucht said. Another is the money the state saves in highway maintenance when freight is shipped on railroads rather than highways, he said.

The railroad companies maintain the railway infrastructure, he said.

As and example, people living between Janesville and Monroe would see construction along the railroad right away if Doyle's proposal is approved, Lucht said. Work would start at Pearl Street in Janesville and would continue through the communities of Orfordville, Brodhead and Juda, he said.

That rail line ships locally produced grain, plastics, fertilizer and ethanol, Lucht said.

Lucht anticipates the list of approved projects in January or early February.

Doyle gave the list of state projects to President-elect Barack Obama and Congress last week. The projects could create jobs and boost the economy statewide.

If the stimulus package becomes law, Doyle said $3.7 billion worth of highway, environmental, energy conservation and school building projects could be started by spring.

Obama asked governors nationwide to make a list of projects that could benefit from federal money and stimulate state economics.

Wisconsin is facing budget shortfalls. The state has a two-year budget deficit of about $5.4 billion. The deficit could mean eliminating thousands of state jobs.

PROJECTS READY

Rock and Walworth county projects included in potential 2009 economic stimulus package:

-- Brodhead-Monroe transmission line—$12.3 million.

-- Highway 12 and Interstate 43 in Walworth County, construction and rehabilitation—$7 million.

-- Railroad rehabilitation: Janesville to Avalon—$6.2 million; Janesville—$3.3 million; Janesville to Beloit—$11.1 million; Walworth to state line—$2 million.

-- Railroad acquisition: Janesville, 5 miles—$2.5 million; Janesville to Beloit—$5 million.

-- Janesville Transit System rehabilitation and hardware replacement—$148,000.