On Feb. 8 in Philadelphia, Vice President Joe Biden announced a comprehensive plan designed to help the nation reach President Obama's goal of giving 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years, as outlined in his State of the Union address. The proposal will place high-speed rail on equal footing with other surface transportation programs and revitalize America's domestic rail manufacturing industry by dedicating $53 billion over six years to continue construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network.

The Vice President made the announcement with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during a visit to Philadelphia's historic 30th Street Station, where passengers traveling from Pittsburgh and Harrisburg on Amtrak's Keystone Corridor connect to high-speed Acela service to Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. 

"As President Obama said in his State of the Union, there are key places where we cannot afford to sacrifice as a nation-one of which is infrastructure," said Biden.  "As a long time Amtrak rider and advocate, I understand the need to invest in a modern rail system that will help connect communities, reduce congestion and create quality, skilled manufacturing jobs that cannot be outsourced. This plan will help us to do that, while also increasing access to convenient high-speed rail for more Americans."

As the first step in this comprehensive, six-year plan to achieve a national system, the President's budget for the coming fiscal year would invest $8 billion in expanding Americans' access to high-speed passenger rail service. 

"In America, we pride ourselves on dreaming big and building big," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. "This historic investment in America's high-speed rail network keeps us on track toward economic opportunity and competitiveness in the 21st century.  It's an investment in tomorrow that will create manufacturing, construction, and operations jobs today. "

This long-term commitment, which builds on the $10.5 billion down payment the administration has already dedicated to this effort, is already paying economic dividends in places like Brunswick, ME, where construction workers are laying track that will provide the first rail service since the 1940s from Brunswick to Portland to Boston. 

Private funding is also being used in the Brunswick's station neighborhood, as investors have financed businesses and residential condos, a new movie theater, a new 60-room hotel, and a 21st century health clinic.  Similar high-speed and intercity passenger rail projects across the country will create jobs, connect large metropolitan communities and economies, ease congestion on roads and airports, and reduce reliance on oil.

The proposal announced today by Biden also streamlines DOT's rail programs, making it simpler for states, cities, and private companies to apply for grants and loans.  For the first time, all high-speed and intercity passenger rail programs will be consolidated into two new accounts:  a $4 billion account for network development, focused on building new infrastructure, stations, and equipment; and a $4 billion account for system preservation and renewal, which will maintain state of good repair on Amtrak and other publicly-owned assets, bring stations into Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, and provide temporary operating support to crucial state corridors while the full system is being built and developed.

Porcari, Rogoff Tour New CAT Facility
DOT officials are visiting several transit systems this week to reinforce the message that partnerships among the federal government, states, communities, and private businesses that provide investment in public transportation are creating jobs today.

Also on Feb. 8, as Biden and LaHood were in Philadelphia, Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari and Federal Transit Administration Administrator Peter Rogoff were in Raleigh, NC, to tour the new Capital Area Transit operations and bus maintenance center.  Raleigh is one of the first stops on the administration's "Build Week," a week-long tour by administration officials to showcase projects that are already helping the economy by spurring private sector investment and creating jobs in the communities where they are being built.

This NC facility expands CAT's bus maintenance capacity from 50 up to a possible 200 buses, which will accommodate the region's growing public transit network. Construction of the Transit Operations Center began in October 2009; completion is scheduled for Spring 2011.

Part of the funding for the $23.3 million project is $11.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the federal stimulus package. A combination of city, state, and federal funds is being used for the remainder of the cost.

"Our up-front investment in projects like this one helps to put skilled construction workers on the payroll today and promote energy efficiency and accommodate transit expansion for years to come," said Rogoff.

Porcari said: "We're proving there's no conflict between economic growth and sustainability."

The new center incorporates a number of green features, including geothermal heating and cooling, cisterns for collecting water, radiant floor heating in some areas to help maintain optimum thermal conditions, and a design that promotes natural light for work spaces. It also uses recycled and rapidly renewed materials.

The CAT facility, LaHood said in his blog, is only one of numerous federally funded projects demonstrating that America "can out-build our competition, sparking private investment and creating jobs. This Administration is committed to continuing to repair our existing infrastructure while also building new ways to move people and goods. That's how we strengthen our communities and our economy."

Other scheduled "Build Week" events included Rogoff touring one of the busiest Red Line transit stations in Cleveland, OH, on Feb. 9, where workers are building a new, higher-capacity station to replace the original Puritas Station, which was built in 1966. This construction was made possible by $400 million of the $8 billion in ARRA high-speed rail funding to provide 250 miles of new track along the "3C Corridor" between Cleveland and Cincinnati. 

Today, Rogoff is scheduled to tour the Intermodal Transit Terminal in Fort Pierce, FL, which is now under construction. When built, it will interconnect Orlando International Airport with high-speed rail, light rail, and commuter rail.

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood deliver remarks on building a 21st century infrastructure at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, PA, Feb. 8, 2011.	The new city transportation facility is projected to meet LEED Platinum environmental and health performance standards.

 

Share: