Contact:
Robin Adam 209-658-2600
Reichel Everhart (916) 319-2017
Sacramento, CA - Assemblymember Cathleen Galgiani today applauded Vice President Joe Biden's announcement of a comprehensive plan that will 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.
As the first step in this comprehensive plan, the President's Budget for this fiscal year would invest $8 billion in expanding Americans' access to high-speed passenger rail service, an increase from the previous year's $2.5 billion. The proposal unveiled by Vice President Biden will dedicate a combined $53 billion in federal funds over six years to continue construction of a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail network.
"I agree with the President and Vice-President that nationwide infrastructure is one of the most important projects of our time," declared Galgiani. "Not only for the clean and efficient public transportation throughout California and eventually the nation it will provide, but also for the economic shot-in-the-arm for California by creating thousands of jobs for Californians today. Nowhere is it more needed than the Central Valley, my district."
In order to achieve a truly national system, these 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.
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 passenger rail network.
Galgiani further notes that California has already received the most federal funding of any state, totaling $3.1 billion in 2010.
"I am proud to lend my support to high-speed rail in California," said Galgiani. "As one of the largest economies in the world today, California needs to be at the forefront of perhaps the most important update to public transportation we will see in our lifetime. The financial commitment the federal government has given to our state shows their confidence that we can build world-class high-speed rail in California".
The proposal announced today by the Vice President also streamlines the Department of Transportation'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: (1) a $4 billion account for network development, focused on building new infrastructure, stations, and equipment; and (2) 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.
