SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani (D-Livingston) today released the following statement responding to news California would be awarded $902 million for high speed rail projects, including $715 million for projects in the Central Valley:

"This is terrific news for advancing high speed rail and for getting California's economy back on track.  This new funding provides a tremendous blessing to the Central Valley because there is a stipulation that $715 million must go to the Central Valley. As someone who wants jobs in the Central Valley and high speed rail in California, I welcome this increased investment that will create thousands of jobs and lead to a safer, cleaner transportation system in our state.  This new investment shows the federal government understands how important high speed rail is to California's economy and how important California's economy is to the national recovery."

The new funds for California are part of $2.5 billion the federal government is allocating for projects throughout the nation.  Earlier this year the California High-Speed Rail Authority received $2.25 billion in federal stimulus funds.

Galgiani, Chair of the Assembly’s Select Committee on High Speed Rail for California, has been one of the legislature’s strongest advocates for high speed rail.