[OKC] FW: [PassRailOK, TX, KS] USDOT Redirects $1.195 Billion in High Speed Rail Funds

[Shauna Struby]

FYI

 

From: sfrr at aol.com [mailto:sfrr at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 8:05 AM
To: EvanStair at PassengerRailOK.org
Subject: [PassRailOK, TX, KS] USDOT Redirects $1.195 Billion in High Speed
Rail Funds

 

Passenger Rail Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas
UPDATE:
December 10, 2010


All,

Yesterday, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced redirection
of 
High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) funds to states showing serious
interest in passenger rail improvement and expansion.  The announcement
serves as
a strong reminder that the federal government intends to deal only with
those states
who ethically propose passenger rail programs without political strings
attached.

According to Evan Stair, Executive Director Passenger Rail Oklahoma, Texas,
Kansas, 
"Those politicians who use federal funding as a political football will miss
valuable 
opportunities.  The FRA has made past statements that states must show a
long term 
commitment to development passenger rail or risk funding.  Infrastructure
investment is
crucial to economic recovery and sustainability.  Those states that consider
HSIPR
funding 'tainted' will lose the opportunity to build more vibrant economies
through more
sustainable infrastructure.  Our nation's economy runs on transportation
corridors.  The
loss of funding is unfortunate for Ohio and Wisconsin citizens; however,
their votes in the
November elections have resulted in this unfortunate federal decision."

Evan Stair
Executive Director
Passenger Rail OK, TX, KS
www.PassengerRailOK.org
www.PassengerRailKS.org   

http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/press-releases/231.shtml


U.S. Department of Transportation Redirects $1.195 Billion in High-Speed
Rail Funds

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that
$1.195 billion in high-speed rail funds originally designated for Wisconsin
and Ohio will be redirected to other states eager to develop high-speed rail
corridors across the United States. Wisconsin has suspended work under its
existing high-speed rail agreement and the incoming Governors in Wisconsin
and Ohio have both indicated that they will not move forward to use
high-speed rail money received under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA). As a result, $1.195 billion will be redirected to high-speed
rail projects already underway in other states. 

“High-speed rail will modernize America’s valuable transportation network,
while reinvigorating the manufacturing sector and putting people back to
work in good-paying jobs,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I am
pleased that so many other states are enthusiastic about the additional
support they are receiving to help bring America’s high-speed rail network
to life.”

The Recovery Act included $8 billion to launch a national high-speed rail
program that will modernize America’s transportation network, spur economic
development domestically and keep the U.S. competitive with other leading
nations. High-speed rail grants announced under the Recovery Act can be used
only for high-speed rail projects and not for other transportation projects.

Last year, the Obama Administration received a commitment from 30 domestic
and foreign rail manufacturers to establish or expand their base of
operations in the United States if selected for contracts building America’s
high-speed rail network. These rail manufacturers and suppliers committed to
not only locate in the U.S., but to ensure high-speed rail projects are
built by American workers with American-made supplies. To deliver maximum
economic benefits to American taxpayers, the Administration’s high-speed
rail program also includes a 100 percent ‘Buy American’ requirement.

Under the Recovery Act, the Federal Railroad Administration originally
announced $810 million for Wisconsin’s Milwaukee-Madison corridor and $400
million for Ohio’s Cincinnati-Columbus-Cleveland “3C” route. The Federal
Railroad Administration will redirect $810 million from Wisconsin and $385
million from Ohio, and will work with these states to determine whether they
have already spent money under their contracts that should be reimbursed. 

The $1.195 billion originally designated for those high-speed rail projects
in Wisconsin and Ohio will now be used to support projects in the following
states:

California: up to $624 million
Florida: up to $342.3 million
Washington State: up to $161.5 million 
Illinois: up to $42.3 million 
New York: up to $7.3 million
Maine: up to $3.3 million 
Massachusetts: up to $2.8 million 
Vermont: up to $2.7 million
Missouri up to $2.2 million 
Wisconsin: up to $2 million for the Hiawatha line
Oregon: up to $1.6 million
North Carolina: up to $1.5 million
Iowa: up to $309,080 
Indiana: up to $364,980 

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