June 11, 2009 - Funding to “jump start” high-speed rail networks across the country could come as early as late summer, according to Vice President Joe Biden.
In a meeting with governors and transportation officials from several states, Biden said $8 billion in stimulus funds will help upgrade the country’s passenger rail system, while at the same time create jobs and help the environment.
“It’s close to embarrassing internationally that we have such a terrible passenger rail system, relatively speaking, in the United States,” Biden said. “We do know that $8 billion won’t put in place an entire high-speed rail network… but it’s 8 billion times more than we had.”
President Obama has requested an additional $5 billion in his budget.
The White House identified ten major corridors, as well as the Northeast Corridor, for high-speed rail projects: California, the Pacific Northwest, South Central, the Gulf Coast, the Chicago Hub, Florida, the Southeast, Keystone, Empire and Northern New England.
