Nice to get, but not much of a jobs stimulus; we're not shovel ready yet.
High-speed train project gets $2.25 billion from Obama
Obama times stimulus grant to State of Union; construction seems poised to begin in 2 1/2 years
By Mike Rosenberg
San Mateo County Times
Updated: 01/28/2010 07:01:49 AM PST
President Barack Obama will award the California high-speed train project a $2.25 billion stimulus grant today, a huge boost that virtually guarantees construction will begin in backyards along the Caltrain tracks within 2½ years.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority could match the grant with voter-approved Proposition 1A money — funds that only can be unlocked when matched — bringing the total prize closer to $4.5 billion. It also intends to use the money as leverage to attract private investments to fund what it calls the largest infrastructure project in the country.
The rail authority will need to begin construction on the $42.6 billion project by September 2012 and finish by September 2017 or it will lose the grant.
Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will formally announce today in Florida how they will dole out the $8 billion in high-speed rail funds included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. But a news release issued in advance from the White House indicated California received nearly twice as much money as any other project.
Specifically, the $2.25 billion will go toward environmental planning and the design and construction of four major corridors, including the San Francisco to San Jose section, where the train will run along the Caltrain tracks. The other corridors are Los Angeles to Anaheim, Fresno to Bakersfield and Merced to Fresno.
Officials from the authority said Wednesday that they were unable to comment on the news until today but they will have to determine how much of the money goes to each of the four sections. The authority's board likely will begin that process in March.
And, $23 million will go toward construction of four new tracks at the San Jose Diridon Station to almost double its capacity, and for a universal crossover for Capitol Corridor trains from Davis to Sacramento. A Southern California rail line received $51 million to accommodate bullet trains, and $20 million will go toward rail safety improvements around the state.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September applied for $4.6 billion in stimulus cash, including $1.28 billion for the section along the Caltrain tracks. In all, 13 corridors in 31 states received funds. Obama timed the announcement to coincide with his State of the Union address and focus on job creation. The authority estimates that every $1 billion spent will generate about 20,000 jobs.
Obama has vowed to include $1 billion for high-speed rail projects in the U.S. budget during each of the next five years.
Mike Rosenberg covers transportation. Contact him at 650-348-4324.
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