House Panel OKs Bill Providing $4B for High-Speed, Intercity Rail

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Committee on Friday approved a $68.8 billion spending bill that would provide $4 billion for high-speed and intercity rail projects, $3 million more than was requested by President Obama in his fiscal 2010 budget.

However, the legislation permits half of that amount to be used to capitalize a national infrastructure bank if Congress authorized one by the end of the fiscal year.

By providing more rail funding, the spending bill “reflects the renaissance of passenger and commuter rail in the United States that was jump-started by the $8 billion provided for high-speed and intercity passenger rail in the Recovery Act,” said John W. Olver, D-Mass., chairman of the committee’s transportation and housing panel. The extra rail funding will “help meet the impressive demand generated” by the rail provisions in the stimulus act, he said.

Additionally, the bill would provide $1.5 billion for Amtrak and $40 million to rehabilitate freight and passenger rail lines — about a third more funding than those projects received last year.

The bill also would increase highway funding slightly to $41.1 billion. Olver blamed the projected shortfalls in the highway trust fund for the “modest increases” in federal transportation funding.

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Transportation industry
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