High-speed rail may be dead, but numerous states would be happy to get some of Florida’s $2.4 billion in rejected high-speed rail funds. Yesterday was the deadline for applications for this money, and some of the applicants include:
- California, of course, would like it all, even though that would still leave it $50 billion or so short in completing the first leg of its high-speed rail dream.
- Missouri wouldn’t mind having a billion dollars for a St. Louis-Kansas City train, even though that corridor was very low on the Federal Railroad Administration’s priority list (the FRA called for only 79-mph top speeds in that corridor).
- New York would like $517 million to separate Amtrak from the Long Island Railroad, improve Penn Station in New York City, and a few other projects.
- Maryland wants $450 million for a new train station at Baltimore-Washington Airport and to replace three bridges used by Amtrak and Maryland commuter trains.
- Surprisingly, Wisconsin‘s Governor Walker has asked for $150 million to add trains to (without speeding up) the existing Chicago-Milwaukee corridor. (This will test the claims of Midwest rail advocates who say it is frequency, not speed, that counts.)
- Massachusetts would like a mere $110 million to replace a bridge on the vital Boston-Portland, ME corridor.
- Vermont wants $80 million on top of the $160 million it has already received to improve a rail line from Burlington south to the state line.
- Connecticut wants “at least $100 million” on top of the $161 million it has already received to speed trains from New Haven to Springfield, MA.
- Washington wants $120 million on top of the $751 million it has already received to speed trains between Portland and Seattle. The first $590 million was expected to increase speeds by 2.7 mph, so another $181 million ought to be able to add another mile per hour or so.
- Tiny Rhode Island would be satisfied with a mere $31 million to make improvements that would speed trains in Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
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On top of these and applications from about two dozen other states, Amtrak itself wants $1.3 billion to replace a bridge in New Jersey and “start planning two new Hudson River tunnels.” (Where have I heard that before?)
There may be more money available soon. North Carolina Republicans are pressuring Democratic Governor Bev Perdue to give back that state’s $545 million that is supposed to improve trains between Charlotte and Greensboro. Meanwhile, Florida‘s Governor Scott seems “ready to derail” the Orlando Sunrail commuter rail line that the legislature approved under the previous governor, who argued that a state commitment to such a rail line was needed to secure federal funds for the now-defunded high-speed rail.
You’re citing Ken Orski? He’s as crooked as you O’Toole!
the highwayman [sic] claimed:
You’re citing Ken Orski?
Do you by chance know Mr. Orski?
Note that I broke my self-imposed moratorium on responding to posts from this individual, but it is now in effect again.
Cite: to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), especially as an authority.
The Antiplanner has linked to an article by Orski. There’s a difference.
“He’s as crooked as you O’Toole!”
Please stop making libelous statements. You continue to violate the comments policy for no other reason than to defame. Your comments add nothing to the conversation. Please stop.
Surprisingly, Wisconsin‘s Governor Walker has asked for $150 million
What is surprising about it? Gov. Walker is from Milwaukee and has a Milwaukee County republican voter base. Madison is democratic. The extension of service to Madison would have primarily served the Madison business community, state government, and UW-Madison.
Gov. Walker made a simple decision to campaign against a project that would have benefitted primarily his political enemies and that his predecessor in the governorship surprisingly killed. But he is for exactly the same sort of projects if they benefit only his own political constituency.
This simply goes to show what I have been saying all along that the current Republican opposition to HSR is not based on any principles of any sort, but is rather based on Barack Obama prominently supporting it. The Republicans and their most prominent big business media voices – The Wall Street Journal and Forbes Magazine – and prominent rail experts like Joe Vranich – were all for high speed rail in the period 5 to 15 years ago when it was seen as a way to improve and modernize Amtrak. The Republican Platform in 2000 and 2004 recalled the party’s history in promoting rail since the 1860’s and its continued support for passenger rail and high speed rail.
If you take out the fluff in these applications, it seems pretty straightforward to guess who will get the money based on bang for the buck.
I’m guessing California to complete Bakersfield-Merced (but probably requiring a higher match), NY for the Harold Bypass tracks (part of East Side Access and probably a hidden way of getting more money to that project), Maryland BWI Station and Susquehanna River bridge, Connecticut to complete the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield work, Washington State, Rhode Island, maybe Wisconsin, probably some money toward Amtrak’s own application, maybe something for Missouri.
@Andrew, I share some of your cyncism about Walker’s actions in Wisconsin. However just as it was naive to right off his opposition to the Madison line due to ideology, it would be naive to write off his support for the Hiawatha improvements as pandering to his base.
The proposed passenger service to Madison was a project that included improvements to the Hiawatha line and it’s infrastructure. In fact, I think that project was technically an extension of the Hiawatha service.
In killing the Madison project it wasn’t just someone pandering to the tea-baggers (if the president stoops to using such language, we can too right?). It was a very expensive project with what was arguably a negative ROI.
While this new proposal may play to the governors base, it’s about focusing on improving an existing corridor that already has frequent service. Wisconsin may be looking the west at Washington and Oregon’s “successful” passenger train service between Seattle and Portland and Eugene where they’ve focused not on big flashy projects but incremental changes that have done a lot to improve quality and customer satisfaction.
I think it’s far too simplistic to say that a $150m project that involves beefing up existing highly used train service between Milwaukee (MSA 2007 1,739,497 ) and Chicago (MSA 2099 9,580,567 ) than spending $815m to server on connecting Madison (MSA 2010 568,593 ).
IIRC annual, ridership on the existing Chicago – MKE service is about @750,000. Adding a few trains, building the new train shed and improving service will likely result in a nice increase in that.
who will get the money based on bang for the buck.
How is Bakersfield to Merced bang for the buck? Have you ever driven that section of 99? I have. There is no market for high speed rail over there!
Frank, STFU!
Hwy 99 is limited access, so YES there is indeed a market for higher speed rail in the area!
Wow, that’s rich Highwayman. Let’s just build a “high” speed rail line along every freeway in the country, all just for you!
I’ve thought about freeway right of ways being good places to build HSR.
Why not, where’s there’s a fool, there’s a way, right?
If there is will & initiative, there’s a way.
If there is will & initiative, there’s a way.
And of course the car drivers and taxpayers to fleece for your lunatic fantasies.
Metrosucks, you’re funny, despite being evil & twisted.