Georgia, Kansas receive high-speed rail grants

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced $750,000 in grants for Georgia, and $250,000 in grants for Kansas, to further develop their high-speed rail programs.

The Georgia grants, from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program, come in three portions: $250,000 to develop an interstate rail network compact with neighboring states; $250,000 for an Atlanta to Birmingham, Ala. feasibility study; and $250,000 for a Macon, Ga. to Jacksonville, Fla., feasibility study.

The $250,000 grant to Kansas Department of Transportation is to develop a service development plan for interstate passenger rail service between Kansas City and Oklahoma City, Okla., and a potential connection to Ft. Worth, Texas. The Kansas Department of Transportation will contribute an additional $450,000 for this planning.

FRA has now released more than $648 million for the HSIPR program, the significant portion of which comes from the $8 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the development of high-speed rail corridors.