West Coast rail projects reap rejected funds

A study of European and Japanese rail systems found environmental and economic benefits. Photo credit: Sebastian Terfloth.

West Coast high-speed rail projects got a boost this week from federal stimulus dollars turned down by two Midwest states.

After governors in Ohio and Wisconsin said they would not develop high-speed rail projects, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday that it will redirect almost $1.2 billion to other states’ high speed rail projects.

In California, where voters in 2008 approved almost $10 billion in bonds for a high-speed rail system between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the state will snag an additional $624 million. That brings total federal funding for the state’s rail project to more than $3.1 billion, according to the California High Speed Rail Authority. Construction on California’s system is slated to begin in 2012 with a 65-mile stretch of track in the state’s Central Valley.

Washington, meanwhile, is expected to get $161.5 million. Oregon’s rail projects will receive $1.6 million.

The reallocated funds were part of more than $10 billion in stimulus funds directed towards high-speed rail projects around the country.

While detractors say high-speed rail is too costly, a study released last month by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group looked at high-speed rail in Europe and Japan, and determined that it could reduce fossil fuel dependency, boost economic growth and support more sustainable landuse patterns in the United States.

“High-speed rail will modernize America’s valuable transportation network, while reinvigorating the manufacturing sector,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

To get the most out of its investment in high-speed rail, the U.S. should focus on building a national system with rail stations located in city centers integrated with commuter and freight rail lines, according to the report. The country should also require domestic manufacturing standards and power systems with renewable energy.