$80 Million in High-Speed Rail Funds Delivered to States

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that nearly $80 million in grants have been delivered to states as part of President Obama’s historic high-speed and intercity passenger rail program.  These grants will go toward the development of a brand new Recovery Act funded high-speed rail systems as well as critical upgrades to existing passenger rail service throughout the country.

“The President’s vision for high-speed rail will forever change the way Americans travel by offering new transportation options,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  “The grants released today are merely the very beginning of many more to follow.”

The $80 million in funding will benefit projects in many regions of the country, including:

• 168mph high-speed rail service between Tampa and Orlando, Florida
• $6,200,000 for track relocation work in California on the Capitol Corridor
• $5,700,000 for environmental assessments of planned new stations on the route between Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin
• $1,000,000 for planning projects to improve service on the Empire Corridor in New York state
• $100,000 for the creation of the first-ever rail plan for the state of New Mexico.

Click here to view the press release from the FRA.

Share and Follow: