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White House Rolls Out 6-Year Plan for High-Speed Rail
The high-speed rail network that would connect L.A. to San Diego and San Francisco at speeds of over 200 miles per hour is chugging its way closer to the Congress floor, after Vice President (and Rail Commuter in Chief) Biden unveiled an ambitious plan today.The plan calls for $53 billion in funding for new and existing rail projects over the next six years with $8 billion marked specifically for high-speed rail. But don't go selling your car just yet, 2012 is the earliest that work would begin in California... on a line connecting Fresno and Merced.
The California High Speed Rail Authority was thrilled by the news and reiterated plans to seek as much as $1.8 billion annually in federal funding. Nice way for Obama to start laying out spending initiatives, but look for the GOP-controlled Congress to do what it can to put the brakes on it.
Biden's full speech from Philadelphia below: