High Speed Rail in the U.P.?

By
Michele Bourdieu
– 02/14/2011

Keweenaw Now’s coverage of Obama’s brief U.P. visit notes Senator Carl Levin’s remarks about the beauty of the Upper Peninsula, as well as former state representative Mike Lahti’s skeptical view on the future of high speed rail in the area’s immediate future:

Levin flew to Marquette with President Obama but arrived in the arena shortly before the President did.

“As we flew in today,” Levin said, “The President could see up closely the beauty — the spectacular beauty of the Upper Peninsula.”

Levin called the new technology “another step forward in bringing together, keeping together and wiring together” people who are separated geographically but united as one people.

…

Former State Representative Mike Lahti of Hancock, business owner and Democrat, who attended the speech with his wife, Sharon, also commented positively on it.

“I thought it was an excellent speech. It was really timely — really a boost for the U.P.,” Lahti said. “Sharon and I enjoyed the day.”

Asked to comment on whether he thought the U.P. could eventually have the high-speed rail Obama mentioned, Lahti was not optimistic.

“It would be a while,” he said. “We’re fighting to keep our (existing) rail.”

He mentioned a rail line near Ontonagon (no longer being used by a plant that closed) that is at risk to be torn up by the owner, who hopes to earn $6 million for the salvage. Lahti said it would be too bad if that was torn up since other businesses do use it and it keeps transportation costs down.

“People who use his rail would like to see that rail line open,” he noted. “It’s a lot easier for businesses to succeed if they have rail in the area.”

Read the rest of the article at Keweenaw Now.

This post was written by

Michele Bourdieu – who has written 3 posts on Headwaters - Community Journalism for the Great Lakes.

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