MADISON, Wis. -- Some commuter rail advocates are praising the high-speed rail line as "tremendous" news for the entire region.

Some of them said it will not only transform the regional economy but the East Washington Avenue corridor near the Capitol.

The White House is doling out $8 billion in grants for high-speed rail projects around the country, and more than 10 percent of it -- $822 million -- is coming to Wisconsin.

With the momentum of $800 million worth of rail lines and passengers headed for central Madison, some in key positions of local power are thrilled at the possibility that it will spur a local commuter rail line and a downtown depot.

A high-speed rail line that deposits Chicago and Milwaukee visitors at Madison's doorstep will bring in big dollars, but it will also fuel like never before the argument for a separate and compatible commuter rail line, WISC-TV reported.

"It doesn't give it a full green light, but it gives it a major boost," said Steve Hiniker, executive director of 1,000 Friends of Wisconsin.

Hiniker is one of the newly appointed members of Dane County's Regional Transit Authority or RTA board, an autonomous group empowered with the ability to levy a sales tax for a transit or commuter rail plan.

Hiniker said he believes the new high-speed line will spark a lot of economic investment in the region, Madison -- and the East Washington Avenue corridor.

"What it can mean for the East Washington corridor is tremendous development opportunity, just tremendous opportunity," said Hiniker.

That's because he backs a plan by a group of private citizens to put a train depot downtown just off East Washington Avenue and First Street.

The so-called Yahara Place plan would erect a depot near a shopping center there because the high-speed rail line has to go right around it before heading east again towards the Dane County Regional Airport.

Hiniker said the Yahara Place train station proposal would capture those high-speed passengers who want to continue on via commuter rail to the University of Wisconsin-Madison or other points west.

With the exception of a 500-yard separation between the high-speed and commuter rail lines, Hiniker called the site "perfect."

"They've (the plan backers) been talking to the mayor and others and it has a very good chance of becoming reality -- either that or something very near to there," he said.

The mayor on Thursday sidestepped the location question.

"There's going to be some discussion around the area around First Street and the airport, and we'll have that discussion, but let's keep our eye on the prize here," Mayor Dave Cieslewicz told reporters at a news conference with the governor Thursday.

The group fully in charge of proposing commuter rail in Dane County has yet to meet, as it waits for all the appointees to be announced. Hiniker said he hopes the group can meet in the next couple of weeks.