US Announces Details of Record Investments in Transit Infrastructure

The US Government has invested $569.3m in ten new capital transit construction projects, which include both rail and bus rapid transit projects in the states Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.

The funding is part of the new 2012 budget proposal, which was recently unveiled by President Barack Obama, and includes a $3.2bn funding for 28 transit construction projects across the country.

The rail projects include the Silicon Valley Berryessa Extension Project, Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project, Utah: Draper Transit Corridor and the Mesa, Central Mesa LRT Extension.

An additional 11 projects for both rail and bus, which were recommended for funding in previous years but have not yet received federal commitments, are also being recommended for $1.4bn in this year's budget.

The rail projects among them include South Sacramento Corridor Phase 2, Third Street Light Rail Phase 2 - Central Subway, Eagle Commuter Rail, Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit, High Capacity Transit Corridor Project, Central Corridor LRT, North Corridor LRT Medium, and Southeast Corridor LRT.

The budget provides $835.4m for the continued funding of seven additional rail transit projects already operational in New York, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Northern Virginia.

Florida's Governor Rick Scott, however, has rejected $2.3bn in federal funds to build a high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando. Washington has announced that it is ready to spend the rejected funds on Amtrak Cascades corridor stretching from Oregon to British Columbia.