Washington, DC – The Administration may have lost a golden opportunity to launch true high-speed passenger rail service in the United States, according to U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL).

Mica, the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and author of the 2008 law to open U.S. high-speed rail development to private sector participation, said, “For years, the United States has lagged behind many other developed countries in passenger rail transportation.  The projects selected ensure that high-speed rail will remain a mirage for nearly every potential passenger rail corridor.”

Last week, the Administration announced its plans to distribute $8 billion in stimulus funds designated for expanded passenger rail service.  “Unfortunately, the Administration has set back our first significant effort to develop high-speed rail by selecting mostly Amtrak projects and low-speed initiatives,” Mica continued.  “They practically ignored the region of the country where high-speed makes the most sense – the Northeast Corridor.  Behind closed doors, Amtrak bureaucrats ambushed any attempts to bring true high-speed service to that congested corridor.”

The Amtrak Acela, operating between Washington, DC and New York, runs at a pitiful average of 83 mph.  “No other nation with true high-speed rail service would seriously consider that high-speed.  Amtrak instead has opted to spend $16 billion over 20 years, and that plan still won’t get the system to average over 100 mph,” Mica said.  The congested Northeast Corridor is the only rail line right-of-way owned, in its near entirety, by Amtrak.

High-speed trains in Spain travel at 186 mph, and the French TGV hits 200 mph.  China’s train from Shanghai to the airport reaches 267 mph utilizing advanced maglev technology.  Only the California project selected for funding by the Administration has the potential for true high-speed service.  The Chicago to St. Louis project will likely operate with an average speed of 71 mph.  The Florida project, because of multiple stops, is expected to average about 86 mph.

“Zeroing out the private sector also dooms our ability to leverage private investment to help finance, construct, and operate the potentially revenue positive project,” Mica added.

“Sadly, the Administration divvied up the $8 billion in stimulus funds largely among slow-speed routes and projects based on politics, and allowed Amtrak to throw true high-speed service for the Northeast Corridor overboard.  This low-speed rail transportation plan may ensure that true high-speed rail in the U.S. will take many more years to leave the station.”