High-speed rail among top projects going forward

High-speed rail among top projects going forward

High-speed rail, bridges and highways are the priority transportation projects going forward, President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address today.

Obama said he intends to secure more private funding for the infrastructure program which can be a good source of new jobs and can keep the U.S. at par with other countries who are at the forefront of transportation technology and infrastructure.

"We will put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges," the President said. "We will make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment and pick projects based on what's best for the economy, not politicians."

The Congressional Budget Office reports that sales tax on fuel will not be able to sustain the Highway Trust Fund by 2014. Road and other transportation projects are paid for by the fund.

But Obama reaffirmed his commitment to high-speed rail during his speech, highlighting big upcoming projects in such states as California.

"Within 25 years, our goal is to give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail, which could allow you to go places in half the time it takes to travel by car," Obama said. "For some trips, it will be faster than flying -- without the pat-down. As we speak, routes in California and the Midwest are already under way."

California's high-speed rail project will cost approximately $42 billion, possibly much more according to some critics. The route will connect Sacramento and San Francisco with Los Angeles and San Diego. A first segment of the high-speed rail project from Fresno to Bakersfield is scheduled to be done by 2012.

Posted by Sophia Andrews on Wednesday January 26 2011, 3:29 AM EST. Ref: Bloomberg. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Travel. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0