Has anyone been keeping up with the amount of money the states are asking for rail projects out of the (paultry) 1.3 billion? Seems that it won’t take more than a few 100 million here, and a few 100 million there and its all gone. Since politics will be (are) involved the strength of various state congressional delegations will determine where the money will go, not who really needs it.
Thoughts???
John
I think you are asking about the TIGER discretionary grant program, which is funded at $1.5 billion.
There were 1,381 requests received by USDOT totaling $56.9 billion, of which 125 were for freight, passenger or commuter rail (not including transit rail) for $5.60 billion. Transit asked for $10.67 billion, ports for $3.38 billion, highways for $32.19 billion, and “other” for $5.12 billion.
Good question how politics will influence the decision-making. By law expenditures in one state cannot exceed 20% of the total, and Secretary LaHood has emphasized that ports and rail will be given preference.
RWM
Thanks Railway Man. The amount available and the amount asked for remind me of my Christmas wish list when I was just a little guy. I wanted the big Santa Fe set and got the crossing shanty!
John