Contact: Media Relations
Phone: (512) 463-8588
 

July 13, 2009

 

Texas Requests High-Speed Rail Stimulus Funding

AUSTIN - Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials submitted seventeen pre-applications to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) late July 10 for a variety of rail projects across the state. The competitive grant program is a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and advances the Obama Administration's vision for high-speed intercity passenger rail throughout the nation.

In all, $8 billion in ARRA funds, in addition to a little over $90 million in FY 2008 and 2009 federal appropriations are available through this program, which is divided among the following funding tracks: Track One - Projects, Track Two - Service Development Programs, Track Three - Service Planning Activities and Track Four - Appropriations-Funded Projects. TxDOT pre-applications seek over $1.9 billion across all four tracks.

"The pre-applications submitted by TxDOT are not simply our requests. TxDOT staff worked diligently with our partners in the railroad industry as well as local and regional organizations to develop each request," said Phillip Russell, TxDOT assistant executive director for innovative project development. "TxDOT is committed to advancing rail projects in our state to move people and goods. These changes will not happen overnight, but I am confident that an integrated, multi-modal transportation system will help Keep Texas Moving."

Interim guidance on the FRA's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program was issued June 17. The next milestones in the process will come August 24, when applications are due for funding tracks one, three and four, and October 2, when applications are due for funding track two.

For more information, please contact TxDOT's Government and Public Affairs Division at 512-463-8588.