Politico has an article today on Obama’s rail strategy that I think some of you might like. Here’s how the piece begins:
Railroads made Chicago, and now a Chicago-rich White House wants to return the favor: remaking rail with a huge new federal investment in high-speed passenger trains.
The $787.2 billion economic recovery bill — to be signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday — dedicates $8 billion to high-speed rail, most of which was added in the final closed-door bargaining at the instigation of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.
It’s a sum that far surpasses anything before attempted in the United States — and more is coming. 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…
This, I don’t think I have to tell you, is incredibly good news.
I do have a question, though… How far will $13 billion go? Will it build us a comprehensive, new rail infrastructure capable of moving a significant portion of the freight that’s now carried over-the-road? Or, is this just enough money to fund a pet project or two, like Harry Reid’s dream project of high-speed rail connecting Los Angeles and Las Vegas?
Michigan Congresswoman Candice S. Miller, a Republican, voted against the stimulus bill Friday, and credited her decision to this particular component, which see described as Democratic pork for Reid. She’s quoted by Politico as saying:
“Michigan is a state of about 10 million people, and we are the hardest hit, as I said, by this economy. And yet we are expected to get approximately $7 billion from this bill. And apparently the Senate majority leader has earmarked $8 billion for a rail system from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? You have got to be kidding. You have got to be kidding.”
I haven’t read the final wording of the bill yet to see if she’s right. If she is – and if all of this money would be going toward rail between LA and Las Vegas – I’d be inclined to agree with her. My hope, however, is that Obama is smart enough not to spend all of the money building high-speed rail to a desert gambling community, which, with all due respect, shouldn’t even exist…. Anyone who has the facts on this, I’d love to hear what they are.