(The Associated Press circulated the following on May 13, 2010.)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The federal Railroad Administration has given Florida approval to begin designing, obtaining land and building the nation’s first major high-speed rail line.
State transportation officials Thursday said they had received the agency’s consent for the Orlando-Tampa route.
Surveying already has begun, but now the state can do additional work that’s needed to seek bids for constructing and operating the train.
President Barack Obama in January announced Florida would get $1.25 billion in stimulus money for high-speed rail, about half of what’s needed for the Orlando-Tampa segment. Plans call for eventually adding a Miami-Orlando leg.