Carpenters cheer high-speed rail announcement

The Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters on Thursday celebrated Gov. Jim Doyle’s announcement that Wisconsin would receive $823 million in federal stimulus money to build high-speed rail passenger service.

“This major investment in Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure will provide an almost immediate boost in construction jobs and create the long term economic development and job growth our state so badly needs,” said Mark Reihl, the council’s executive director in a press release.

Reihl went on to say the announcement provides hope for the 25 percent of the union’s members who are out of work.

The WSCC represents almost 15,000 members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.