US Considers Passenger Fund - Congress plans funding for development of passenger railroad service - Brief Article

International Railway Journal, May, 2000

AN investment programme which will increase funding towards the development of passenger rail corridors, including planned high-speed projects, is to be considered by the United States Congress.

The US Department of Transportation Secretary, Mr Rodney Slater, has presented new legislation which would provide higher funding than in President Clinton's proposed $US 468 million budget for 2001.

Slater said his programme would enable him to "give grants to states, consortia of states, or Amtrak, for up to 50% of the cost of capital investments for improving inter-city passenger rail services, including those investments necessary to promote the development of high-speed services."

The money would be diverted from the Highway Trust Fund, which is presently in excess of earlier estimates. Any further funding for rail corridors would be in addition to the $US 521 million which has already been requested for this purpose by Amtrak