High-Speed Rail
Streetsblog Basics
USDOT Tries to Resuscitate the HSR Dreams Congress Wants to Bury
High-speed rail has had a rough go of it lately. The House refused to give it a dime for next year, while the Senate only managed to allocate a fraction of what the president wanted. President Obama stuck some money back in via his jobs package, but it already seems clear that the package won’t pass as proposed, and we know high-speed rail is the always first for the chopping block.
October 5, 2011
Senate Saves a Sliver For High-Speed Rail
President Obama had sought $8 billion for high-speed rail in 2012. The House-passed budget had exactly zero. The Senate bill approved by the Transportation subcommittee Tuesday followed suit. But the full Appropriations Committee yesterday put $100 million back into next year’s budget for the president’s signature transportation initiative.
September 22, 2011
Senate Strips High-Speed Rail Funding
The Senate's transportation budget proposal is still under wraps, but we're getting some clues about what's in it.
September 20, 2011
House Votes to Strip High-Speed Rail Funding
This morning, the House voted 232-182 for an Energy and Water Appropriations bill that redirects $1 billion of high-speed rail money to flood relief for the Midwest.
July 15, 2011
Northeast Corridor, the Midwest, and California Say “Thanks, Florida!”
Thanks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s head-smacker of a decision to refuse billions in federal high-speed rail funds, other parts of the country are getting a windfall. Even with $400 million of Florida’s money vanishing in the name of deficit reduction, the remaining $2 billion will go a long way in improving rail service in key areas around the country.
May 9, 2011
High-Speed Rail Funds Get Slashed in Detailed Budget Plan
Just when we thought transportation had gotten off relatively easy in the shutdown-aversion budget deal:
April 12, 2011
Florida Gov. Rick Scott Chooses Politics Over Constituents, Rejects HSR Funds
Florida Governor Rick Scott announced today he would forfeit $2 billion in federal grants to build a high-speed rail line between Orlando and Tampa.
February 16, 2011
“Amtrak Joe” Biden, in Philly, Announces New Plan for High-Speed Rail
The Obama administration is taking its infrastructure push on the road. First stop: Philadelphia, to announce a $53 billion plan to invest in high-speed rail.
February 8, 2011
Mica Touts Public-Private Northeast Corridor HSR In Grand Central Hearing
Sitting beneath the famous zodiac mural of Grand Central's main concourse, with the rumble of commuters and trains in the background, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held its first field hearing of the new session this morning. The topic was the future of high-speed rail on the Northeast Corridor.
January 27, 2011
Mica Confirmed as Transpo Committee Chair
Rep. John Mica (R-FL) was confirmed today as the next Chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
December 8, 2010