As the administration of Democrat Gov. Bev Perdue prepares to start spending $461 million in federal fast-train grants (see today’s story with reader comments), Republicans in the General Assembly want North Carolina to give the money back. All of it. [1:20pm update: See announcement from USDOT secretary and (3:20 p.m.) NCDOT.]
Reps. Ric Killian of Charlotte and Phillip Frye of Spruce Pine, Republican co-chairs of a House subcommittee that oversees transportation spending, filed legislation Monday that would order Perdue’s Department of Transportation not to ..
apply for, accept, or expend any grant funding from the federal government for any high-speed rail project unless the project has been approved through an act of the General Assembly.
DOT would face penalties, losing Highway Fund money, if it disobeys the ban.
The Federal Railroad Administration is committing $461 million in federal stimulus grants so NCDOT can start accepting bids for 24 projects to build more tracks and bridges and make other rail improvements between Raleigh and Charlotte. That’s the bulk of the $545 million promised North Carolina by the Obama administration last year, of which $59 million was paid out earlier and negotiations lie ahead for the remaining $25 million.
"It ensures that these grants will improve passenger rail service in North Carolina, while preserving the world class freight rail system we have today," Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, said today.
The money will add double tracks from Charlotte to Greensboro, straighten curves, build bridges, add five miles of passing siding tracks between Greensboro and Raleigh, and put a fourth round trip train on the tracks between Raleigh and Charlotte. Trip times will be reduced below three hours.
Republicans in Congress are making efforts to rescind any high-speed rail money that was promised last year but not yet committed to the states, and this threat helped speed North Carolina to nail down an agreement that satisfied both Norfolk Southern Railroad, which controls the tracks that will be improved, and the FRA, which demanded assurances that Norfolk Southern’s freights wouldn’t get in the way of faster passenger trains.
The expected FRA announcement that this new money has been committed to North Carolina will put it beyond reach of Republicans in Congress, but Perdue and NCDOT still face a challenge from Republicans in the state legislature. They want North Carolina to follow the example of new GOP governors in Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida, who have rejected a combined $3.6 billion in rail funds.
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter and editor since 1976, he took over the 
Comments
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Wed, 03/23/2011 - 05:21 — jameshood007I want to read more.
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Headline should be GOP Neanderthals Rant In Their Echo Chamber
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 23:16 — USA_TodayWho cares what the neanderthal Republicans have to say? These are the same Einstein's that got us into the global economic meltdown in the first place. They are so beholden to ideology that their brains have atrophied.
Excellent idea
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 17:00 — yourkillingme1. the federal govenment is broke, it has no money for trains.
2. DOT is spending our tax debt money. no thanks
3. as we know the federal government locos have no priorities. lay off teachers or fast trains, S/S debt or fast trains or teachers.
4. See number one it's true.
Higher Speed Money
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 15:47 — jepthasIt is not regressive to state that passenger trains lose tons of money and thus "investing" in them is simply an invitation for future budget issues. We are firing teachers, but increasing subsidies for the well-to-do to take trains. We could be investing in better freight service, but that is not how it is being sold.
Rich folk don't ride no trains
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 17:28 — perchanceWell-to-do on a train? When's the last time you've been on a train?
The majority of people I see on trains are certainly not among the rich. There are a few commuters, including one or two who commutes daily from Charlotte to Raleigh. There might be more if the service was faster and more reliable.
The money being proposed comes largely from designated funds. It is collected at the gasoline pump.
Social security isn't in debt. The government is in debt to the social security trust fund.
The federal budget was in fine shape before President George W. Bush waged a phony war against Iraq, leaving his successor to clean up his diplomatic, military and budgetary mess.
High Speed Fares and Social Class: Response
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 19:07 — jepthasAcela, the high-speed train in the Northeast, charges up to $1.25 cents per mile and can get that kind of money from those who can afford extremely high-priced tickets. So, yes, social class is closely tied to high-speed rail. The whole goal of rail transit in the RTP region, by the way, is to get the well-to-do onto transit from Raleigh and Durham into RTP. These are the state's best paid workers. So, yes again, social class is closely tied to the current pushes for more rail travel and less bus travel over the same routes.
Neanderthal GOP
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:55 — USA_TodayThe GOP gave us the global economic meltdown. They want to prevent us from modernizing infrastructure, which will promote economic growth and reduced energy use. Of course, the GOP coddles Big Oil so no wonder they hate rail.
Why?
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:34 — ncobxerPoor job of reporting because the story doesn't explain why precisely Republicans want the money returned.
Stay ...
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 14:46 — BruceSiceloff (author)... tuned.
GOP policies herald Dark Ages ...
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 13:08 — perchanceRepublicans occupying the Houses that Pope Bought have proved to be retrogressive connivers seeking to create in North Carolina a capitalist autocracy that envisions a society devoid of compassion and consideration for the poor and middle classes. Some of the new majority also embrace the lunacy of cessation from the United States, creation of a North Carolina currency, reneging on constitutional guarantees of quality public education, and attempting to seize the powers of the Office of the Governor.
Surely, voters who in 2010 were persuaded by the campaign rhetoric of Republican legislators did not envision the rejection of a half century of progress by a state that has long burnished a reputation for reason and progress.
The latest example of the agenda of the GOP troglodytes is to reject federal funds for improved and badly needed high-speed rail transportation. This project offers an opportunity to create hundreds of jobs, expand and improve a major transportation artery, reduce the impact of individual travel on the environment, and serve as a further attraction for business development.
Rather than embrace sensible and needed improvement in the state's infrastructure, the GOP legislators again embrace -- yea, kiss square in the mouth -- a cheapskate Pope-ist philosophy more suitable for the Dark Ages than for an Age of Progress.
Federal Fast Train Money
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 11:50 — Avowed_Southern...Republicans deserve a permanent minoirty status so that their desire to live in the past can remain political posturing and inconsequential rhetoric.
RE: REGARDING THE GOVERNOR REJECTING THE RAILWAY FEDERAL DOLLARS
Tue, 03/22/2011 - 11:45 — beachbum3Question?
Aent these states mention by the republican leadership if you want to call it that in the nc state house an nc senate the same state thathave been seeking to be union busting an firing of anreducing state employee in thier states to less than second clas citizens in thier states is this to what the state gop want to do ois to bust the so call unions here in north carolina an to ereduce this state state employees to second class citizens with out any form of workplace protections. i think that these republcians will follow their wonderful governor dumpling right out the door come 2012 election cycle thank you