$50 billion in high-speed rail applications submitted, money to be awarded this winterOctober 6th, 2009 $50B in high-speed rail applications submittedWASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan. A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in a statement.
Obama administration says it will select high-speed rail projects for funds this winterOctober 6th, 2009 High-speed rail projects to be chosen this winterWASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will begin divvying up $8 billion designated for high-speed and other passenger rail projects sometime this winter. The money is a fraction of the rail aid sought by states.
Top US railway official says upgrading service will come slowly, even with stimulus cashSeptember 11th, 2009 Rail official: Upgraded service will come slowlyCHICAGO — The Obama administration's top railroad official says Americans shouldn't expect to see networks of souped-up, bullet-fast trains after the $8 billion set aside in the federal stimulus bill for high-speed rail is finally spent. But Federal Railroad Administration head Joseph Szabo said in prepared remarks for an industry conference Friday in Chicago that the White House is committed to upgrading train service, adding that the stimulus cash is just a down payment on what he dubbed "a rail renaissance."
"Change will happen incrementally," he said.
Top federal railway official says upgrading service will come slowly, even with stimulus cashSeptember 11th, 2009 Official: Upgrading US rail service to come slowlyCHICAGO — The Obama administration's top railroad official says Americans shouldn't expect networks of super-fast trains after federal money already set aside for high-speed rail is spent. In prepared remarks at a Chicago rail conference Friday, Federal Railroad Administration head Joe Szabo says $8 billion in stimulus cash for high-speed trains is a down payment on a White House's commitment to modernize railways.
Ohio company seeks $8.7B in stimulus money to make passenger trains for Obama's rail planSeptember 10th, 2009 Ohio company eyes stimulus money for train factoryCOLUMBUS, Ohio — State transportation officials agreed Thursday to support a private company's bid to make passenger trains that would run on President Barack Obama's proposed high-speed rail network. U.S. Railcar LLC, which in June bought the assets of a shuttered Colorado railcar company, intends to build a $14 million factory in suburban Columbus that would make diesel-fueled passenger cars and employ about 160 people.
Many line for broadband stimulus funds: $28B requested vs. $4B availableAugust 27th, 2009 Many interested in broadband stimulus fundsWASHINGTON — "Cash for clunkers" isn't the only economic stimulus program to attract a lot of takers. The U.S. government says it has received requests for a total of $28 billion from groups that want to expand high-speed Internet service in the country.
House passes increases for housing, high-speed rail; highway funding held flatJuly 24th, 2009 House passes increase for housing, high-speed railWASHINGTON — The Democratic-dominated House Thursday approved generous funding for housing subsidies for the poor and President Barack Obama's initiative to build high-speed railroads as it passed a $123.1 billion transportation and housing bill. The measure, approved 256-168, provides a 13 percent increase in total funding for the programs it covers, including $4 billion for Obama's high-speed rail initiative, which was launched in February with an $8 billion infusion from the economic stimulus bill.
Southern California-to-Las Vegas train route wins federal high-speed rail designationJuly 3rd, 2009 SoCal-to-Vegas rail route wins federal designationLAS VEGAS — The clogged tourist travel route between Southern California and Las Vegas has been designated a federal high-speed rail corridor, in a move that officials hope would signal increased cooperation between the regions on building speedier train travel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that the route is now considered part of the federally designated California high-speed rail corridor.
Southern California-to-Las Vegas train route wins federal designationJuly 3rd, 2009 SoCal-to-Vegas route wins federal designationLAS VEGAS — The clogged tourist travel route between Southern California and Las Vegas has been designated a federal high-speed rail corridor, in a move that officials hope would signal increased cooperation between the regions on building speedier train travel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced Thursday that the route is now considered part of the federally designated California high-speed rail corridor.
Advocates call for 220 mph train service between Chicago and St. LouisJuly 1st, 2009 Advocates call for 220 mph Midwest train serviceCHICAGO — When it comes to trains, there's fast and then there's really, really fast. Advocates on Tuesday unveiled an $11.5 billion plan for a Chicago-St.
GAO: Federal Railroad Administration lacks plan to oversee high-speed rail projectsJune 23rd, 2009 GAO: Gov't lacks strategic high-speed rail planWASHINGTON — The U.S. agency in charge of $8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail projects doesn't have an adequate plan to oversee the projects, and the system of super-fast trains ultimately will cost much more than even the $8 billion, a government watchdog official told Congress on Tuesday.
Possible high-speed rail projects in the USJune 18th, 2009 Possible high-speed rail projects in the USCorridors highlighted by the Federal Railroad Administration as possible contenders for stimulus funds for high-speed rail:
—California corridor (Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego)
—Pacific Northwest corridor (Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver British Columbia)
—South Central corridor (Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Little Rock)
—Gulf Coast corridor (Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta)
—Chicago hub network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville)
—Florida corridor (Orlando, Tampa, Miami)
—Southeast corridor (Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, Savannah, Jacksonville)
—Keystone corridor (Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh)
—Empire corridor (New York City, Albany, Buffalo)
—Northern New England corridor (Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven, Albany)
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Source: Federal Railroad Administration.
New fed. criteria favors Midwest, California in race for $8B in high-speed rail stimulus fundsJune 18th, 2009 Midwest, Calif. front runners for $8B in rail cashCHICAGO — High-speed rail plans in California and the Midwest appear to be front runners in the race for $8 billion in stimulus cash based on federal criteria released Wednesday that favor projects with established revenue sources and multistate cooperation.
Federal authorities provide details on stimulus money for high-speed railJune 17th, 2009 Feds release details on high-speed rail fundsCHICAGO — The Obama administration has released criteria for $8 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail that appear to give front-runner status to projects in the Midwest and California. The 68-page guidelines released Wednesday by the Federal Railroad Administration are the starting shot in a race between states to build new or revamped networks.
US transportation secretary praises Spain's bullet train system as model to followMay 30th, 2009 US transport boss, Spanish premier discuss trainsMADRID — Spain's bullet train system is a model to follow as America plans how to spend the money the government is spending to stimulate the economy, the U.S. transportation secretary said Saturday.
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