Lobbying for high-speed rail funding begins (Source: www.ENR.com)

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Lobbying for high-speed rail funding begins

DATE: 7/23/2009
Pre-applications totaling $102.5 billion are received from 40 states; only $8 in stimulus money available
By Kevin Doyle

In our most recent edition of Construction Digital magazine, we detailed President Barack Obama’s desire to create high-speed rail corridors throughout the United States. The president set aside $8 billion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to jump-start the process.

Read the July issue of Construction Digital for the exclusive interview.

However, with every ambitious plan, it seems there comes a dilemma and Obama’s dilemma, pleasant though it may be, is this: How does one parcel out the available money when 278 applications totaling $102.5 billion have been received?

More money, though not nearly enough, may be on the way. A House committee has recommended an additional $4 billion for high-speed rail in regular 2010 appropriations.

Looking at the crush of interest, Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, says, “Basically, this confirms what we’ve been saying. All around the country people want good, high-quality, dependable train service, and there needs to be a federal program to make it happen.”

FRA is going through an “avalanche” of pre-applications that came in before the July 10 deadline, says spokesman Warren Flatau. Final applications are due on Aug. 24 for three of FRA’s four grant categories. The deadline for the fourth category is Oct. 2. DOT expects to award the first batch of rail grants in the fall. Secretary Ray LaHood says, “We’re going to try and really jump-start opportunities...in several places in the country where people have been dreaming about high-speed rail for a decade or more.”

Only states, the District of Columbia, or multistate groups are eligible to apply for the rail grants. DOT reports applications were filed by 40 states and the District of Columbia. Some states submitted multiple proposals. California led the way, with applications totaling $24.2 billion. It has plans for a $40-billion, 800-mile system linking major cities.

Maryland ranked second, with more than $11 billion in proposals. Of that, $3 billion would be for projects within the state’s boundaries, most of them on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. Major items include $1.5 billion to replace three bridges and install new track structures and $1 billion to replace the Baltimore & Potomac tunnel, which dates from the 1870s. FRA also included in Maryland’s total about $2.4 billion for Northeast Corridor projects in other states, including $400 million for the long-delayed Moynihan station project in Manhattan. Maryland DOT has been working with other Northeast states and agreed to take the lead for those corridor projects in the FRA competition, says MDOT spokeswoman Erin Henson.

Midwest states’ applications “appear to be very well coordinated,” says Harnish. The region’s plan includes 110-mph service from Chicago to St. Louis, Chicago to Milwaukee to Madison, Wis., and Chicago to Detroit.

LaHood acknowledges limits. “We know we’re not going to fund all the high-speed rail with tax dollars,” he says. “Some of it’s going to have to be private investment. And we know there are private investors out there that are ready to do that.” FRA says pre-applications from California, Nevada and New York include funding from “non-public entities.”

LaHood says foreign companies are seeking a part in the program. “I guarantee you those companies that have been involved in high-speed rail in Asia and Europe are in America right now meeting with the folks that are putting proposals together to tap into our $8 billion,” he says. Central Japan Railway Co. announced on June 29 it plans to offer a version of its bullet train for the U.S. and other international markets.

The House Appropriations Committee wants high-speed rail to expand beyond ARRA-funded work. The panel on July 17 approved a 2010 transportation spending bill that includes $4 billion for high-speed rail, quadruple the amount President Obama requested.

Source: www.ENR.com