Rep. Black's survey shows support for fuel efficiency and rail

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

From a press release issued by State Rep. Spencer Black:

Wisconsin should adopt higher fuel efficiency standards for new cars and should support development of a high speed rail system, according to the overwhelming majority of constituents responding to Representative Spencer Black’s annual legislative survey. Black released the results of his annual legislative survey of the 77th Assembly District.

“The holiday travel season is upon us and people want more energy efficient ways to
travel,” Black said. “My constituents would like to see a high speed rail system linking Wisconsin’s major cities with each other and with Chicago and Minneapolis. Our country is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not have fast trains between our major metropolitan areas.”

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of survey respondents supported a high speed rail system
and only nine percent (9%) were opposed. The remainder was undecided. However, support for a commuter rail system within Dane County was far less strong with only a slight majority of 51% in support.

Black’s survey also found strong support for Wisconsin adopting tougher mile per gallon standards for new cars. Thirteen states have already adopted the tougher standards. “The federal government has not updated the mileage standards since 1977 despite increased gas prices and the threat of global warming. States are taking action because of the failure of leadership at the national level,” Black noted.