By Ron Thaniel
May 16, 2011

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced on May 9 more than $2 billion in high'speed rail awards to speed up trains in the Northeast Corridor, expand service in the Midwest and provide new locomotives and rail cars. Twenty-four states, the District of Columbia and Amtrak submitted nearly 100 applications.

"Earlier this year, President Obama and I made a commitment to improve and expand America’s transportation system, including the development of a modern, national high'speed rail network," said Vice President Joseph Biden. "And today, we’re announcing investments that will continue our progress toward making this vision a reality. These projects will put thousands of Americans to work, save hundreds of thousands of hours for American travelers every year, and boost U.S. manufacturing by investing hundreds of millions of dollars in next-generation, American-made locomotives and railcars."

"President Obama and Vice President Biden’s vision for a national rail system will help ensure America is equipped to win the future with the fastest, safest and most efficient transportation network in the world," said LaHood. "The investments we’re making today will help states across the country create jobs, spur economic development and boost manufacturing in their communities."

The Department’s Federal Railroad Administration selected 15 states and Amtrak to receive $2.02 billion for 22 high'speed intercity passenger rail projects. The grants will:

• Make investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC), with $795 million to upgrade some of the most heavily-used sections of the corridor.

• $58 million to construct upgrades to tracks, stations and signals, improving rail operations along the Empire Corridor. This includes replacement of the Schenectady Station and construction of a fourth station track at the Albany - Rensselaer Station, one of the corridor’s most significant bottlenecks.

• Provide $404.1 million to expand high'speed rail service in the Midwest. Newly constructed segments of 110-mph track between Detroit and Chicago will save passengers 30 minutes in travel time. The Chicago - St. Louis Corridor will have trains operating at 110 mph for more than 220 miles of track.

• Continue laying the groundwork for the nation’s first 220-mph high'speed rail system in California through a $300 million investment, extending the current 110 mile segment an additional 20 miles to advance completion of the Central Valley project, the backbone of the Los Angeles to San Francisco corridor.

Nearly 100 percent of the $2.02 billion announced by the Obama Administration will go to construction of rail projects. Thirty-two states across the U.S. and the District of Columbia are currently laying the foundation for high'speed rail corridors.