UPDATE 12/9/2010 3:33pm:
Michigan's been left off the list of state getting more federal money for high speed rail projects. The New York Times reports:
The biggest winners of Ohio and Wisconsin’s money were California, which will receive another $624 million on top of the nearly $3 billion it has received so far toward the construction of a high-speed train from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and Florida, which will get another $342 million on top of the roughly $2 billion it has received to build a high-speed train between Orlando and Tampa. The other states that will get Ohio and Wisconsin’s money will be Washington, which will get up to $161 million; Illinois, which will get $42.3 million; and Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon and Vermont, which will all get less than $10 million.
ORIGINAL POST 12/9/2010 1:33pm:
$161 million in federal funds is already earmarked for upgrading Michigan's railroads. The money comes from an $8 billion high speed rail fund set up by the Obama administration. The legislature failed to approve matching funds for the federal grant before adjourning.
But now, more money may be coming available. The Associated Press reports:
Congressional sources say the Obama administration is taking $1.2 billion in high-speed rail money away from Ohio and Wisconsin and awarding it to projects in other states. People familiar with the grants say the Department of Transportation will announce Thursday that California, Illinois and New York, among other states, will get a share of the funds. Republican governors opposed to high-speed rail were elected in Ohio and Wisconsin in November. They have promised to kill projects in their states. The sources spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly before the announcement.
