Passenger rail supporters hope the Obama administration’s plan to boost funding over the next six years for high-speed and intercity rail projects will create an opportunity to fill an existing funding gap for the Quad-Cities’ Amtrak link.
Vice President Joe Biden unveiled the administration’s plan Tuesday in Philadelphia, proposing $53 billion in spending on a nationwide rail network over the next six years, including $8 billion in fiscal year 2012.
The administration plans to unveil its 2012 budget next week.
The goal, officials say, is to connect 80 percent of the U.S. population to high-speed rail service within 25 years.
Already, $230 million in federal funds have been approved for a Chicago-to-Iowa City Amtrak link through the Quad-Cities.
The full story appears on the Sioux City Journal website.