The White House has released the complete text of the American Jobs Act proposed bill that they have sent to Congress. There are significant funds in it for intercity passenger and high speed rail, Amtrak, and transit which show Obama has not stopped pushing for HSR and intercity rail. How this plays in the House is another matter.
The rail related parts:
-$4 Billion for grants for intercity and high speed rail projects with the following guidelines:
"The Federal share payable of the costs for which a grant or cooperative agreements is made under this subsection shall be, at the option of the recipient, up to 100 percent." So, 20% state matching not required (good teaser to get support from cash strapped states).
"Not less than 85 percent of the funds provided under this subsection shall be for cooperative agreements that lead to the development of entire segments or phases of intercity or high-speed rail corridors"
-$2 Billion for Amtrak for capital grants for "the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of railroad assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity including the rehabilitation of rolling stock." Most of this would likely be for the NEC. Could also pay for new equipment orders.
-$3 billion for transit capital assistance grants.
-$6 billion for state of good repair capital expenditures as directed by the Secretary of Transporting, where the Secretary of Transportation shall apportion not less than 75 percent of the funds under this subsection for the modernization of fixed guideway systems,. Looking up the definition of fixed guideway systems that means rail of all types or trolleys and buses in exclusive right of way operations.
-$5 Billion for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure as discretionary grants. The list of eligible projects include passenger and freight rail.
The rail related parts:
-$4 Billion for grants for intercity and high speed rail projects with the following guidelines:
"The Federal share payable of the costs for which a grant or cooperative agreements is made under this subsection shall be, at the option of the recipient, up to 100 percent." So, 20% state matching not required (good teaser to get support from cash strapped states).
"Not less than 85 percent of the funds provided under this subsection shall be for cooperative agreements that lead to the development of entire segments or phases of intercity or high-speed rail corridors"
-$2 Billion for Amtrak for capital grants for "the repair, rehabilitation, or upgrade of railroad assets or infrastructure, and for capital projects that expand passenger rail capacity including the rehabilitation of rolling stock." Most of this would likely be for the NEC. Could also pay for new equipment orders.
-$3 billion for transit capital assistance grants.
-$6 billion for state of good repair capital expenditures as directed by the Secretary of Transporting, where the Secretary of Transportation shall apportion not less than 75 percent of the funds under this subsection for the modernization of fixed guideway systems,. Looking up the definition of fixed guideway systems that means rail of all types or trolleys and buses in exclusive right of way operations.
-$5 Billion for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure as discretionary grants. The list of eligible projects include passenger and freight rail.
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