Biden: California Rail a 'Priority' for Federal Funds

Vice President Joe Biden announced to reporters earlier this month that California is especially well-prepared to receive a chunk of the $8 billion of stimulus money that has been earmarked for high-speed rail. Earlier this year, President Obama identified 10 regions nationwide that could benefit from high-speed rail. But because California voters approved $9 billion in state bonds last November, Biden believes the state is well-equipped to receive at least 10% of those funds.

The first phase, which is to run from Anaheim to San Francisco, will cost upwards of $34 billion and construction will last at least 10 years. But the ultimate vision of the plan is a $45 billion, 800-mile network linking San Diego in the south to Sacramento up north. Not only does California high-speed rail have the backing of its voters, it has long-running support from Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature, and is in advanced planning stages... which is much more than most states can say. Biden, who has been dubbed 'Amtrak Joe' for his vibrant support of rail, added that the administration wants to "get shovel-ready projects out the door as quickly as we can."

But because of the pressing need of improved transportation and construction activity, and the lengthy red tape federally-funded projects must wade through, two segments of the proposed line under considerably high demand might be contracted out by 2012 and open for riders by 2017. These segments are the $3 billion run from Anaheim to Los Angeles and the $4+ billion run from San Jose to San Francisco. This second segment is particularly controversial because it is proposed to run along an existing commuter rail right-of-way and through some very dense, primarily affluent areas. According to the Wall Street Journal, Florida is the other leading candidate for federal money.