The economic recovery bill signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday includes $8 billion for the development of high-speed rail, and additional billions are expected over the next few years, according to a report on Politico.com.
Most of the funding was added in a final closed-door bargaining by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who apparentlly is focusing on high-speed train development as a legacy initiative for the administration, the report said.
The initiative may take the place of other signature issues–such as school construction and updating the electric grid–which face stiff opposition from Republicans.
Administration officials told Politico that when Obama outlines his 2010 budget next week, it will ask for $1 billion more for high-speed rail in each of the next five years.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will have 60 days to come up with a strategic plan for the funds.
Read the full report at the link below.
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The USA should build a national high speed passenger rail road as fast as possible. That would be a major component of economic recovery program as well as solving massive traffic jam and on our hiways, and the polution caused by internal combustion engines. Trains should be some kind of zero emission electric drive rail vehicles.