Congress kills Obama’s high-speed rail plan

November 18, 2011 By Andrew Couts

President Obama's national high-speed rail project has been shut down through a bi-partisan de-funding deal.

The House and Senate voted Thursday to mostly de-fund President Obama’s high-speed rail project, which sought to bring ultra-fast trains nationwide, reports the Associated Press. Obama had requested $8 billion for the project for next year, and $53 billion over the next six years.

Republicans are claiming victory for the death of plan, which was achieved through a deal with Democrats on a broader spending bill for the Transportation Department and other federal agencies. The deal passed the House with a vote of 298-121 and the Senate by 70-30. It is now on its way to Obama for his signature.

“Today’s vote marks the end to President Obama’s misguided high-speed rail program, but it also represents a new beginning for true intercity high-speed passenger rail service in America,” said Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), who serves as chairman of the House subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, in a statement.

Shuster, along with Transportation Committee chairman Rep. John Mica (R-FL), believe that the scope of high-speed rail service in the US should be limited to the Northeast Corridor, which runs between Washington and Boston, with stops in Philadelphia and New York City.

While the full $8 billion Obama requested is no longer on the table, some money remains that could lead to the development of high-speed rail. Of these is a segment of the 2012 spending bill entitled TIGER (Transportation Investment Generting Economic Recovery), which allots $500 million for transportation infrastructure projects. The TIGER money is still up for grabs, however, with highway, transit, port and freight rail markets competing for the funds.

According to the AP, “billions” of additional dollars are still in the pipeline for rail as well. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says more than $1 billion are expected to be spent on high-speed rail-related projects next year.

Of these, the largest is a project in California, which aims to use bullet trains, which can travel at speeds of up to 220 MPH, to connect San Francisco to Anaheim. The project is set to begin next year, with completion expected in 2017. To date, that project has received $3.9 billion in federal funds. In total, Obama has allotted $10.1 billion for high-speed rail projects across the US.

[Image via Ortodox/Shutterstock]

Showing 32 comments

todSky at 3:14pm 3rd December 2011 Bravo for the dinosaurs drawing profits from investments in out-moded automobile technology (or maybe just missed out on living in the present). Too bad it puts the US yet further behind in the competition for developing viable 21st century technologies. Henry Ford had it right...just as did Jesse James... exploit the obvious. Who knows what the future might hold?....and it's not up to me to decide, so f**k it,. I'm takin' what I kin git now.No... only kidding. No one should be faulted for their birth-position, choice of educational opportunities, or county-wide viewpoint. It is what makes this country the best thing the 20th century ever saw. Remember when...I've still got a wooden nickel that my grand pappy gave me that has guided all of my investment decisions ever since. Joel, the IRS auditors are on their way. That cabin in Montana is in their cross-hairs.
Joel Geist at 9:29pm 18th November 2011 That nobody rides...........
1. papadrino at 12:29am 19th November 2011 joel you are a troll. Amtraks ridership is up nationwide but according to you "nobody rides....." It's up because gas prices are up and people rather pay for a monthly ticket for the train because its cheaper, has less wear and tear on their vehicle and its more relaxing. As far as 19th century technology this is a half truth like calling the automobile 19th century technology or likening the wheel to cavemen technology. Thirdly the government has given Amtrak about 8 billion dollars throughout its 40 year history and 39 billion this year alone to roads which give next to no return on investment versus train travel which is charged per rider per trip. Please back up your tired mantras with facts.
  1. tytheteacher at 9:42pm 19th November 2011 Awesome points made, but all I can think about right now is "Joel the Troll." (Laughing like a moron)
2. todSky at 3:25pm 3rd December 2011 nobody in Guam. That is there you live, right?
Alphonso Dandridge at 9:26pm 18th November 2011 Our politicians are so dumb, why the hell would you kill a project thats proven effective. Something that can improve regional and nation wide travel. Reduce reliance on air travel and oil, all with technology that's green. Idiots, I swear to beans.
Thomas Gill at 9:17pm 18th November 2011 We need Maglev and Monorail!
Joel Geist at 8:36pm 18th November 2011 So jesterking: so "fixing our country" is investing 50 billion dollars into an antiquated mode of transportation that will be underused? I don't know what article you read, but it looks like it got shut down handily in the Senate. Last I checked Republicans did NOT control the Senate, so blaming the Republicans is a complete joke at best.
1. TechFreak at 1:24pm 18th November 2011 @Joel - "Republicans are claiming victory for the death of plan, which was achieved through a deal with Democrats on a broader spending bill for the Transportation Department and other federal agencies. "The story right here says that Republicans are claiming victory for the death of this.
Joel Geist at 8:31pm 18th November 2011 Technologically backward? Because we aren't investing in 19TH CENTURY technology that has been shown time and time again to be a product that is vastly underused?????
1. Dylan Winslow at 1:03am 19th November 2011 Joel: see Europe, Asia. ( Russia and Africa will probably get continental high speed rail before we do at this point, which is shameful)Also, last time I checked fully electric high speed rail using state of the art tech, developed and built in TWENTY FIRST CENTURY, is not 19th century tech.For all of Obamas faults, shortcomings, and empty promises, this was one thing HE DID deliver on; unfortunately he has been betrayed by a congress infiltrated by blood thirsty Republicans and fake liberal Democrats. Both Dems and Repubs have intentionally failed America once again. I'll bet $100 right now that this motion gets little to no media coverage over the next couple days. Oh right, thats why they did this on a Friday.God Help Us All.
Jacob Troyer at 8:27pm 18th November 2011 Chris, the profit motive is what has driven countless innovations in every field imaginable.
1. Get Real at 9:20am 19th November 2011 How about the military? What is the profit there? Oh, the huge weapons firms, and private contractors, and contractors who replace government jobs with triple the cost private jobs. This can all be wrapped up in apple pie and chevrolet. God save us from the terrrrrsts, and here's a trillion a year to do it. But, subsidize something that wont make bubba money and you've got a GOP defined boondoggle.Sometimes, Jacob, the government has to do things that benefit society that have not return on investment, or at least won't make the rich richer.
Ruben Rodriguez II at 12:01pm 18th November 2011 I don't understand. Why is congress dead set on making the US the most technologically backward nation in the world.
1. jesterking at 12:06pm 18th November 2011 Because the republicans are dead set on removing Obama from the white house. They stonewall all attempts to fix our country in hopes that the American public don't pay attention to their antics and blame the president. I didn't vote for the guy, and I won't vote for him next time... But it is getting a bit much. Just do your damn job, and stop playing games with our future!
  1. Andrew Couts at 12:19pm 18th November 2011 This man speaks the truth.
  2. TechFreak at 1:25pm 18th November 2011 I couldn't have said it better. Republicans have no interest in fixing our infrastructure either. All they want to do is tax the poor and horde everything for themselves.
Joel Geist at 7:51pm 18th November 2011 So we should subsidize riders at massive amounts like Amtrak does because nobody rides it? So we should just construct massive money pits in the name of saving the planet? Yeah, that sounds like a great plan! Lol
Chris Joseph at 7:42pm 18th November 2011 Profit should not enter in to it. It's about moving toward renewable energy so that we don't potentially destroy our planet within our own lifetime. America are failing at almost every turn in this regard.
Joel Geist at 7:31pm 18th November 2011 There is a reason that only one light rail system in the WORLD turns a profit.
Joel Geist at 7:30pm 18th November 2011 Yay! Let's spend billions on 19th century technology that NOBODY will ride!
Anthony Menghini at 7:25pm 18th November 2011 One more example of the innate corruption in our legislators. This would be a huge boon for the common man, but you don't pay slaves do ya?
1. rickca9 at 4:57pm 19th November 2011 The 19th century bullet trains in the world do NOT pay for themselves, with 2 exception of Japan and Tiawan. The construction cost is $75 million per mile and have high maintenance costs. That is why the offer of free government money and eternal high costs later, was rejected by Florida, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Japan is switching to magnetic levitation trains for that reason. We need 21st century green technology that is safer and can go 300 mph. Before you endorse an obsolete technology, do your research.
Jhon Ray at 7:10pm 18th November 2011 so sad]
Kai Tamkun at 7:06pm 18th November 2011 The wars have cost more than one trillion USD. This is a fraction of the cost and far more useful.ಠ_ಠ @ US govt as usual.
Gil Cottrell at 7:04pm 18th November 2011 of course they kill it! The CAR lobby and the oil lobby wants this to NEVER happen. They did the same thing in the fifties and eliminated ALL the mass transit ESPECIALLY in the California area! The fact of the matter is it is cheaper then the airplane gas hogs and CAN run on electric TOTALLY! When are we going to do the RIGHT thing? FIRE ALL THE CONGRESS and vote in NEW people who want America to be great AGAIN!
Arnold Fan at 7:04pm 18th November 2011 Cuz it will kill the always delayed airline industry.....
Stephen LeatherFace Popa at 6:57pm 18th November 2011 wow and japan and china have had this for 10 years now
Anvesh Checka at 6:56pm 18th November 2011 lol
Mason Moon at 6:56pm 18th November 2011 Why does everyone ignore infrastructure?? O_o
Joel Geist at 6:56pm 18th November 2011 Thank God
James Phillips at 6:55pm 18th November 2011 Thank God for that.