Obama administration says it will select high-speed rail projects for funds this winter
By Joan Lowy, APTuesday, October 6, 2009
High-speed rail projects to be chosen this winter
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it will begin divvying up $8 billion designated for high-speed and other passenger rail projects sometime this winter.
The money is a fraction of the rail aid sought by states.
The Federal Railroad Administration said Tuesday it has received 45 applications from 24 states totaling approximately $50 billion to advance high-speed rail corridor programs.
The agency has also received 214 applications from 34 states totaling $7 billion for corridor planning and smaller projects, which could include trains traveling less then 100 miles per hour.
Congress included the money in the $787 billion economic stimulus package approved earlier this year.
(This version CORRECTS to $787 billion instead of $787.))
