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Texas Requests $1.8 Billion For High Speed Rail Project
The Texas Department of Transportation has submitted applications to the federal government seeking about $1.8 billion for high-speed passenger rail service between major cities including a route along the Interstate 35 corridor through Waco, Temple and College Station.
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AUSTIN (August 25, 2009)--The Texas Department of Transportation has submitted nine applications to the Federal Railroad Administration seeking about $1.8 billion for high-speed passenger rail service between major cities including a route along the Interstate 35 corridor through Waco, Temple and College Station.
Texas Requests About $1.8 Billion for High Speed Passenger Rail
Nationwide, about $8 billion in federal high speed rail funds in addition to about $90 million in 2008 and 2009 federal appropriations are available through the program.
Texas hopes to use the $1.8 billion on service that would eventually link Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston with trains traveling at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.
The state also wants $200 million for less ambitious projects.
"An integrated, multimodal transportation system is key to efficiently moving people and goods throughout the state," said Phillip Russell, TxDOT assistant executive director for innovative project development.
"This isn't something that can be achieved overnight, but I believe that these applications set us on a course that will Keep Texas Moving."
Texas faces an uphill climb for the money because the federal guidelines favor states that have already moved toward developing high-speed rail.
The Obama administration released criteria earlier this summer for the $8 billion in stimulus money intended for high-speed rail and the guidelines appeared to give front-runner status to projects in the Midwest and California.
The 68-pages of guidelines released by the Federal Railroad Administration were the starting shot in a race between states to build new or revamped networks.
California's $45 billion plan calls for 800 miles of track for high-speed service.
The new guidelines favor states that pushed through other revenue sources, and California voters approved nearly $10 billion in state bonds last November for high-speed rail.
The guidelines also give an edge to states that have banded together to cooperate on projects.
Eight Midwestern states joined forces to back a network with a Chicago hub.
Potential High-Speed Rail Corridors
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)
Latest Comments
Where the US Congress has been in charge of the investments, AmTrak has been starved of funds, and so it seems a failure. But where some states have stepped up to put their own money into passenger rail, SUCCESS! Illinois has spent over $100 improving tracks in the state, and when it paid to increase the number of trains between St. Louis and Chicago from three trains a day to five, ridership doubled. Between Portland and Seattle, more passengers ride the state-subsidized Cascades train service than fly the federally subsidized airlines. In Pennsylvania, and Amtrak in this rare case, invested in track improvements, new signaling, etc. to cut the trip time from 2 hours to 90 minutes between Philly and Harrisburg, and ridership is up 26% in two years. Yeah. I often drive I-35 -- but I'd prefer to sit down in a wide seat and read or use my laptop, or get up and walk back to get a snack, instead of constantly trying to dodge 18-wheelers and crazed or drunken speedsters.
This smells of TTC. Again, this is not put to Texas voters, but rather attempted to be rammed down our throats. Since Perry had his hand called on the Trans Texas Corridor, he's hiding this mandate behind the Texas Department of Transportation. Yes, this would create jobs in Texas, but for whom? Legal Texans or illegal immigrants? A route along I-35? Again, there goes precious farmland rousted from folks that have owned it for generations, all bought at a fraction of its value. It is doubtful the 1.8 billion would cover all the costs either. Since when have the estimates been right on target without a later increase because of underestimation of cost? And finally, this is Texas, NOT the north or northeast. Texans prefer to drive their own cars and trucks. This train would be like Amtrack, an ok idea on paper, a flop in reality. I akin it to a weight lifting machine bought with intent on using it then it just sits there at home, unused, aside from being a place to hang clothes.
Austin just has to have a hand in the wasteful spending of the Government/Our tax dollars) money!!!
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