One Wisconsin Now Delivers Over 7,000 Petitions to Gov.-Elect Walker’s Office to ‘Save the Train’

MADISON, Wis. — One Wisconsin Now delivered the names of over 7,000 Wisconsinites from every corner of the state to the office of Gov.-elect Scott Walker who signed One Wisconsin Now’s “Save the Train” petition demanding Walker drop opposition to the high speed rail project for Wisconsin.

“The people of Wisconsin have spoken and it is time for Scott Walker to listen to them,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “Scott Walker cannot allow his first act to be killing the 13,000 jobs high speed rail would bring to our state.”

The text of the petition delivered to Walker’s office:

Governor-elect Scott Walker:

I urge you to reconsider your opposition to the high speed rail line in Wisconsin.

The construction of the rail line will create as many as 13,000 jobs for working families in Wisconsin. But your grandstanding against the train threatens to ship all 13,000 of those jobs out of state.

Other states like Illinois and New York are lined up waiting to get the money you want to turn down, meaning those states will get the jobs Wisconsin should. Train-manufacturer Talgo said it will move to Illinois, and take the jobs it already created in Milwaukee with it. Even worse, Wisconsin has already spent $100 million on this project, money we won’t get back if you cancel this project.

High speed rail will not only bring jobs, but it will spur billions of dollar in economic development throughout Wisconsin and save $3.5 to $4.6 billion in reduced travel time, reduced congestion and reduced emissions.

The benefits of high speed rail are real, and Wisconsin needs the jobs this project will create.

Keep the jobs in Wisconsin. Grow the economy. Save the train.

One Wisconsin Now produced an informative video about the benefits of high speed rail, titled, “Moving in the Right Direction,” which is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEwgv1fQDSQ.