More rail projects than money available

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration said yesterday that it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan.

A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in a statement.

"Our selections will be merit-based and will reflect President [Barack] Obama's vision to remake America's transportation landscape," Szabo said.

In August, the railroad administration received 214 applications from 34 states totaling $7 billion for corridor planning and smaller projects, which would include trains traveling less then 110 mph, the rate defined as high-speed in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Applications for high-speed projects were due Friday. Virginia applied for $1.8 billion that would fund 19 projects along the corridor's Petersburg-Washington section with the goal of allowing passenger trains to travel up to 90 mph by 2017.

The $787 billion recovery act designated $8 billion for high-speed and other passenger-rail projects. Interest in winning a share of the rail funds has been intense, not only by states, but by domestic and foreign rail, engineering and construction companies that want to build and operate the systems.

The fierce competition means that most applicants are likely to go away empty-handed. The $4.7 billion application from the California High-Speed Rail Authority alone totals more than half the available funds. California is aiming for bullet-train service to eventually extend from Sacramento to San Diego.

Florida is seeking $2.5 billion for high-speed service between Tampa and Orlando. North Carolina transportation officials want to start work on a Southeast rail corridor between Charlotte and Richmond.