Biden to governors: Be bold on rail

Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and other governors at a White House roundtable today that they should think boldly about high-speed rail.

The $787 billion economic stimulus package includes $8 billion for high-speed passenger service, and President Obama is asking for $5 billion more in his budget. The White House says that detailed guidance for applying for the money will be announced later this month and the first round of grants will be awarded as soon as late summer 2009.

But the Globe reported last month that the Northeast is behind California and the Midwest in the competition for the cash, in part because it has not put as much time and money into organizing a regional effort.

“Everyone knows I’m a big believer in our nation’s rail system – I’ve devoted a big part of my career doing what I can to support it – and I’m proud that this administration is about to transform that system fundamentally,” Biden said in a statement. “Thanks to an $8 billion investment from the Recovery Act, we’re going to start building a high-speed rail system that will loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways, and make travel in this country leaner, meaner and a whole lot cleaner.”

America is ready to embrace a new level of passenger rail service that offers a safe, convenient, and sustainable way to travel from city to city, and region to region,” added LaHood. “President Obama has handed us an extraordinary opportunity – and now it is up to all of us to seize the moment. With creative input and contributions from governors across the country, I believe we’ll be able to do just that.”

Other governors in attendance, according to the White House, were Pat Quinn of Illinois, Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, Jay Nixon of Missouri, Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin.