Citing unnamed White House sources, Washington press outlets report this morning that President Obama has chosen a wide distribution plan for the first $8 billion in federal high-speed and intercity passenger rail funds: 31 states will get money to start developing new high-speed rail corridors or to upgrade existing lines for faster train service.
The grants, to be announced Thursday in Tampa, will include grants on 13 major corridors and smaller awards to improve existing lines.
North Carolina is among the contenders for rail money, with a request for $5.7 billion to build out its fast-train network from Charlotte through Raleigh to Richmond. Virginia is picking up the plan for getting the train from Richmond to Washington. The two states began developing the planned Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor in the early 1990s.
When Obama announced the plan to invest in fast train networks a year ago, he called the $8 billion allocated by Congress in federal stimulus funds a "down payment." He proposed an additional $1 billion a year for the next five years.
In this year's budget, Congress has approved a second dose of $2.5 billion for high-speed and intercity rail. That money is expected to be distributed in coming weeks.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
Why do some people hate America?
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 20:15 — RonBSpending on rail projects creat jobs that can't be outsourced by the next Republican Congress and/or president. Is that what upsets you?
Getting around *without* having to fight gravity via airplane is MORE EFFICIENT and COSTS LESS. True conservatives would embrace this, but there are none any more. The brains of the conservative movement have been replaced by beauty queens and truck-driving Cosmo centerfolds.
Of course the bill will *never* come due for Bush's "war on terra", right? The bill for W's domestic war on the middle class and we're paying it, right now, to the tune of trillion dollar deficits and double digit inflation. Depsite what the knuckle-draggers are told by the Daily Talking Point distribution facilities, it is NOT Obama's fault tha Georgie built a house of cards and then set it on fire.
RonB "True conservatives
Thu, 01/28/2010 - 08:38 — ForReaganRonB "True conservatives would embrace this,"
You obviously don't know what the definition of conservative is. Conservatives would NOT want this if it is going to cost the taxpayers money. If it is going to be done by private funds, great. But, you liberals want to be liberal with taxpayers money, generally not even yours. It is interesting that the ones that want all these entitlements, seem to be the ones that pay the least taxes
. "beauty queens and truck-driving?" Wow, you are pretty insecure, aren't you? A you down on folks that drive trucks for a reason? Do you think they are all rednecks? Is that why you are picking on them. Or, is it that you just need some way to find what you perceive is a fault. Beauty queen? Do you have a problem with a politician being good looking, or are you that disappointed at that wicked witch of the west coast, Pelosi. I can understand why she would scare you, but a good looking woman? You seem to have major issues with appearances. Or, is it that you just want to scream your looney liberal socialist vaulues to the world, before they play the last song? Go ahead, because real Americans are not fooled this year. Obie's support base is crumbling. 
About time! Every other
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 20:07 — ctillAbout time! Every other 1st-world nation has a passenger rail system that makes sense. The US has been fixated on airlines plus highways for way too long.
You smell
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 18:08 — TheLibertineYou smell that...mmmhmmm...smells like pork! Yes, what we need, more government spending. You know people, this gold card that Chairman O's been burning up for the past year is going to have a bill, and that bill is going to come due, and you know who is going pay for it...that's right...American taxpayers. BOHICA, fellow citizens, it's going to hurt...alot.
This would be GREAT!!
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 17:20 — mjjunkI can't wait for this to happen. An airline flight from Raleigh to anywhere North East of here is not practical anymore because of all the restrictions on travel. If I could get on a train and be there quicker, on time, and cheaper than the gas it would take in my car, I would hop on this train anytime! It would at least reduce the stress of the drive.
An 8 Billion dollar train set for the big boy on the hill
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 13:25 — ForReaganWhat a great idea! If you build it, they will come. Hmmmm, I wonder who he will find that will be able to afford to ride it? If the people don't have jobs, then I guess only politicians will be able to afford the ride. How many illegals will it take to build the train set? How many unions have already been promised the contract to build it? Once it is built, can we get rid of Pelosi's jet liner for her transit back and forth to Californication?
Obie, you card! You had us believing that you were serious about fixing things...NOT!
So, Obie is going to build his own big train set. That is SOOO cool! I wonder if they will name it after him.
Train Money was Already Spent
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 12:57 — link0612Hey guys, calm down. The spending freeze is on *future* spending.. the money for the high-speed rail was budgeted and accounted for in the first stimulus package.. it's money that's already been spent. The FRA, a subsection of the federal DOT, has just been trying to decide where the money would best be spent.
Don't get all up in arms about "new spending" when the money is already spent and accounted for.
And another stimulus too!
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 12:46 — curlyQWhat spending freeze? Oh, I didn't mean for folks to take me seriously about that.I need another 75 billion dollars to create more jobs that I didn't really create but it sounds good. Oh, by the way, I didn't use up the first $787 billion stimulus but that doesn't matter does it? I really need to dig deeper into your pockets for more.Oh, and while I'm at it I lied to you morons out there. Let's face it I'm good.I'm working on the healthcare bill while all of you think it's dead. Max Baucus and Steny Hoyer are busy with back room deals for having the bill on my desk by next week.I can't believe you idiots and Scott Brown fell for that line " We will wait until Scott Brown is seated in Washington before any further work is done on the healthcare bill". I've got Scott Brown stalled until late February. He won't be coming to Washington before I get my agenda passed. Galvin, Massachusetts secretary of state is doing a good job of stalling for me.
That was good wasn't it? I kept you busy wondering whether I was going to move to the center after that shellacking I took in Massachusetts. I'm a marxist ideologue. I never give up. I just get more corrupt and the lies get better. I had you focused on me didn't I? I'm good at that. Keep looking at me. Don't look at my right hand holding the knife stabbing you in the back. Look here at my left hand. That's the hand thats patting your head telling you everything is going to be okay. The government will take care of all your needs. We'll tell you how to live. Whether you can have a car or not. Everyone will get the same pittance of a little check each month of $450.00. That's enough to live on because we need the rest. Everybody will be the same. Social Justice for all.SUCKERS AND MORONS THAT'S WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE COMPLIMENTS OF BARAK OBAMA, NANCY PELOSI, HARRY REID, ET AL.
so much for the spending
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 11:58 — PhantomLordso much for the spending freeze.
Another Obama lie.