New administration, new promises, old studies, no results to date; just the same old story.
Let's review what happen to trains during the last stimulus package from FY 2009.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - WikipediaTransportation
Total: $48.1 billion, some in the form of Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants
$27.5 billion for highway and bridge construction projects
$8 billion for intercity passenger rail projects and rail congestion grants, with priority for high-speed rail
$6.9 billion for new equipment for public transportation projects (Federal Transit Administration)
$1.5 billion for national surface transportation discretionary grants
$1.3 billion for Amtrak
$1.1 billion in grants for airport improvements
$750 million for the construction of new public rail transportation systems and other fixed guideway systems.
$750 million for the maintenance of existing public transportation systems
$200 million for FAA upgrades to air traffic control centers and towers, facilities, and equipment
$100 million in grants for improvements to domestic shipyards
$8 Billion for intercity passenger rail projects and rail congestion grants, with priority for high-speed rail
Where was that $8 Billion ultimately spent?
In $Millions
Chicago Hub/Ohio 2617
California 2343
Florida 1250
Southeast 620
Pacific Northwest 598
Northern New England 160
Empire 152
Northeast 112
Keystone 27
Congress allocated an additional $2.5 billion in the FY 2010 budget
In $Millions
California 898
Florida 800
Chicago Hub 428
Connecticut 121
Southeast 45
So, in two years that the Democrats had control of both the Congress and the President, they gave these totals for High Speed Rail.
California $3.241 Billion
Chicago Hub $3.045 Billion
Florida $2.050 Billion
Southeast $665 Million
Pacific Northwest $598 Million
Northern New England $160 Million
Empire (New York) $152 Million
Connecticut $121 Million
Northeast Corridor (south of NYC) $112 Million
Keystone (Pennsylvania) $27 Million
After 10 years of planning, engineering, and construction, trains going as fast or faster than 110 mph today are on the Keystone, Connecticut. and Northeast Corridors. Note, they were already doing so before 2009. Note, the US Government considers 110 mph and faster speeds High Speed Rail.
Of the $10.5 Billion set aside prioritized for High Speed Rail, only $260 Million was spent effectively, as promised. An additional $3.241 Billion was given to California to help build its High Speed Rail project, none of which is in service yet, and only 171 miles of phase 1's 520 miles is under construction. The total CHSR system is promised to be around 800 miles.
One could easily state that $10.240 Billion was wasted 11 years ago. If you wish to credit the CHSR allocation as not being wasted, $7 Billion was wasted 11 years ago.
Math = 10,500 - 260 = 10,240
Math = 10,500 - 3,241 - 260 = 6,999
Where did that extra $7 Billion go? It certainly was not spent on High Speed Rail.
Over $3 Billion of that 7 was spent in Illinois, most of it rebuilding the corridor to St. Louis with a promised 110 mph speeds - and if we are lucky trains will soon be reaching speeds of 90 mph. That $3 Billion was over promised and poorly delivered.
Over $2 Billion of that 7 was promised to Florida, which after all that was done, none of it was spent in Florida.
The remaining $2 Billion of that 7 was spent on choke points here and there throughout Amtrak's national network, including $600 Million for the Point Defiance Bypass, which has had just one ill fated intercity "Cascade" train ran on it. A new passing siding here, a bridge refurbishment here, a new train station here, and something else there.
Except for the $2 Billion promised to Florida, something somewhat benefiting Amtrak was done - but did we, Amtrak's customers, actually benefit from any of them? Was a new rail service provided, was a new corridor opened to new cities, did a foot of additional operating high speed rail enter service? I believe the correct answer to date is no.
And here we are about to see additional $Billions promised for High Speed Rail projects. Do you really believe within the next 10 years we will actually see a foot of additional high speed rail tracks operating with it? Or any new cities added to Amtrak's national network?
