Bill that would send billions to high-speed rail gains support in the House
3 min readHigh-speed rail would win $205 billion of federal support over five years under a bill introduced last week that’s gained 30 co-sponsors, all Democrats, and support from high-speed rail and labor groups.
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., and Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., introduced the
High-speed rail “will connect people to more jobs in new places, give Americans freedom and choice in how they travel, and put us on par with the rest of the world,” Moulton said in a statement. “This bill is the plan that will get us there.”
Before joining Congress in 2015, Moulton was director of the Texas Central Railway bullet train project. Dogged by controversy since its proposal in 2014, the Dallas-Houston project
Texas Central is one of a handful of fledging bullet train proposals in various stages of development. The privately operated
Moulton introduced similar bills in 2020 and 2021, both of which stalled, although the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reportedly included some of their provisions. The IIJA provides money for high-speed rail primarily through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program, which provides $36 billion in advance appropriations through 2026. The competitive grants can be used to upgrade existing rail systems and establish new ones, including privately run lines. The smaller Corridor Identification and Development program funds planning and development of intercity rail services.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has
Moulton’s measure comes on the heels of the
Moulton’s bill calls for $41 billion to be invested annually through Federal Railroad Administration grants for planning and development of high-speed rail, defined as at 186 miles-per-hour or higher, and for trains that travel at slightly slower speeds of between 110 and 186 mph. The FTA grants would be based on “equity, resilience, sustainability, economic development potential and climate,” according to Moulton’s press release. Regions not served by commercial aviation would also be prioritized. “We want to connect towns and cities that have been deserted by airlines and left out of existing transportation options,” Moulton said in a
The legislation calls for additional incentives to generate $38 billion in non-federal funding and incentives for state and local transportation agencies to develop transit-oriented development.
“The growing support for the American High-Speed Rail Act is great news,” said Andy Kunz, CEO of the U.S. High Speed Rail Coalition in a statement. The coalition “will work to ensure this bill is front and center when Congress considers the next surface transportation package.”
The
In past House transportation hearings, Republicans have expressed cautious support for some bullet trains but have repeatedly singled out the California project for criticism.
The legislation has been referred to the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Ways and Means committees. Moulton sits on the transportation infrastructure committee.