(The following appeared on the Progressive Railroading website on August 2, 2010.)
Late last week, the House passed the FY 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill by a 251-167 vote.
The bill aims to create jobs and bolster the economic recovery by spurring investments in transportation and housing infrastructure, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a prepared statement.
Among the appropriations, the bill would provide $11.3 billion for rail and bus public transportation projects — $500 million more than FY2010’s appropriation and $575 million more than President Obama’s request. The bill would allocate $1.77 billion for Amtrak, $201.9 million more than FY2010’s appropriation and $151.5 million more than the Administration’s request.
In addition, the bill would provide $1.4 billion to expand and improve intercity passenger rail and develop a national high-speed rail system. The appropriation is $400 million higher than the initial request, but more than $1 billion shy of what the program received in FY2010.
Moreover, the bill would allocate $75 million in grants to help railroads implement positive train control — $25 million more than the 2010 appropriation and $75 million more than the President’s request.