High-speed rail
Mica Extends Olive Branch to Amtrak, Dems Pound Rail Privatization Plan
Rep. Corrine Brown (D-FL), the top Democrat on the Railroads Subcommittee, began her remarks at yesterday’s Transportation Committee hearing like this:
June 23, 2011
Rahall, Brown Say Dems Must Be Consulted on Rail Privatization
The top Democrats with jurisdiction over rail in the House are asking for a little old-time bipartisan cooperation in the Transportation Committee. They’re complaining that Republicans have shut them out of the process on one of the most important, game-changing proposals to come down the pike in a while: taking the Northeast Corridor away from Amtrak and putting it in private hands.
June 16, 2011
House Plan to Privatize Northeast Corridor Retains Public Ownership
Under the House Republicans’ proposal to bring more private competition to the nation’s most valuable transportation asset, the Northeast Corridor would remain in public hands. Transportation Committee Chair John Mica (R-FL) made clear that under his and Rail Subcommittee Chair Bill Shuster’s plan, “the public maintains ownership of the corridor; we’re not giving it to any private firm.”
June 15, 2011
Can High-Speed Rail Reduce Air Travel and Highway Expansion?
Yesterday, Miller-McCune’s Michael Scott Moore accused Southwest Airlines of helping to bury a potential Texas bullet train 15 years ago.
June 9, 2011
GOP Proposal to Privatize the Northeast Corridor Meets Resistance
House Republicans, led by Transportation Committee leaders John Mica (R-FL) and Bill Schuster (R-PA), have a plan to take the Northeast Corridor out of Amtrak’s control and privatize it. They’ve long called Amtrak a “Soviet-style operation” that loses money.
May 27, 2011
Republican Response to USDOT’s High-Speed Rail Grantees
In my last story about the allocation of high-speed rail funds, I said House Transportation Committee Chair John Mica (R-FL) must be pleased to finally see the Northeast Corridor get its due. In a statement hot off the GOP's presses, Mica didn't sound exactly pleased.
May 9, 2011
Northeast Corridor, the Midwest, and California Say “Thanks, Florida!”
Thanks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s head-smacker of a decision to refuse billions in federal high-speed rail funds, other parts of the country are getting a windfall. Even with $400 million of Florida’s money vanishing in the name of deficit reduction, the remaining $2 billion will go a long way in improving rail service in key areas around the country.
May 9, 2011
High-Speed Rail Funds Get Slashed in Detailed Budget Plan
Just when we thought transportation had gotten off relatively easy in the shutdown-aversion budget deal:
April 12, 2011
Grabbing a Thin Reed, Republicans Attack DOT Over Stimulus Grant Process
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood likes to remind critics that there have been no reports of “boondoggles” or “sweetheart deals” related to transportation stimulus funds. He’s proud that the money has been put to the uses it was intended for.
April 11, 2011