This Article is From Feb 09, 2011

America to spend USD 53 billion on high-speed rail network

Washington: US Vice President Joe Biden has announced a federal plan to invest USD 53 billion in the
next six years to construct a national high-speed rail network.

This is a part of the goal of giving 80 per cent of Americans access to high-speed rail within 25 years, as outlined by US President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address in January.
"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 do that, while also increasing access to convenient high-speed rails for more Americans," Biden said at an event in Philadelphia to announce the plan.

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

The investments will focus on developing or improving three types of interconnected corridors: Core Express (these corridors will form the backbone of the national high-speed rail system, with electrified trains traveling on dedicated tracks at speeds of 125-250 mph or higher), Regional (Crucial regional corridors with train speeds of 90-125 mph will see increases in trips and reductions in travel times, laying the foundation for future high-speed service) and Emerging (Trains traveling at up to 90 mph will provide travelers in emerging rail corridors with
access to the larger national high-speed and intercity).

"This historic investment in America's high-speed rail network keeps us on track towards economic opportunity and competitiveness in the 21st century. It's an investment in tomorrow that will create manufacturing, construction and operations jobs today," said Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

By clarifying the long-term federal role in passenger rail, this six-year program will provide states and cities with the certainty they need to make long-term transportation plans for their communities.

It will provide businesses the confidence they need to hire American workers, he said.

Strong Buy American requirements will create tens of thousands of middle-class jobs in construction, manufacturing, and rail operations, the White House said.
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