U.S. transportation secretary announces $2.4B for high-speed rail projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that 54 high-speed rail projects in 23 states will share in $2.4 billion to continue developing America’s first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.

The department’s Federal Railroad Administration received 132 applications from 32 states totaling $8.8 billion, more than three times the $2.4 billion available. During the first round of awards in the fall of 2009, applicants submitted more than $55 billion in project proposals for the initial $8 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Demand for high-speed rail dollars is intense and it demonstrates just how important this historic initiative is,” LaHood said. “States understand that high-speed rail represents a unique opportunity to create jobs, revitalize our manufacturing base, spur economic development, and provide people with an environmentally friendly transportation option.”

More than 30 rail manufacturers and suppliers, both domestic and foreign, have agreed to establish or expand their bases of operations in the United States if they are hired to build America’s next generation high-speed lines, a commitment the Obama administration secured to help ensure new jobs are created here at home.

Some award examples include:

• California received more than $901 million, including $715 million for the construction of new high-speed rail lines in the Central Valley. The state has made significant investments in passenger rail that have led to remarkable ridership growth.
• Florida received $800 million for the Tampa to Orlando high-speed rail corridor. The state’s long-term vision is for a high-speed rail line that connects Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and other Florida communities.
• Iowa received $230 million to create a new intercity passenger rail service between Iowa City and Chicago through the Quad Cities. When completed, the service will form an integral part of the existing efforts to develop the Chicago Hub intercity rail system in the Midwest.
• Michigan received $161 million for a high-speed rail corridor connecting Detroit and Chicago, the two largest cities in the Midwest. The long-term vision for this corridor includes doubling the number of daily round trips between Detroit and Chicago.

The money is being awarded for a range of activities, such as construction of track and stations, purchase of new passenger equipment, and planning studies to develop new high-speed rail service.

“In the 20th century, our vision led to the interstate highway system,” said FRA Administrator Joe Szabo. “In the 21st century, our vision will give us a world-class network of high-speed passenger rail corridors.”

In addition to the $8 billion down payment from the Recovery Act, additional funding for high-speed rail has come from several sources. These include $95 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s FY 2009 appropriations and remaining money from a related FY 2008 appropriations program, and from the department’s FY 2010 appropriations, which included at least $2.1 billion for high-speed rail service development programs, $245 million for individual projects, and $50 million for planning and multi-state proposal activities.

A complete project list can be viewed at www.fra.dot.gov/rpd/passenger/2243.shtml.