Dems tout national rail-building program

WASHINGTON - High-speed rail projects in California, Florida and Illinois are among the big winners of $8 billion in grants announced yesterday by the White House - the start of what some Democrats tout as a national program that could rival the interstate highways begun in the Eisenhower era.

President Barack Obama announced the awards during a town-hall meeting in Tampa, Fla., a follow-up to Wednesday's State of the Union address that focused on getting Americans back to work.

Thirteen passenger rail corridors in 31 states will receive grants, which are funded by the economic recovery act enacted last year. Obama said focusing on building 21st century infrastructure projects is an important element of the country's economic recovery. "It creates jobs immediately and it lays the foundation for a vibrant economy in the future," he said.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the money includes $151 million for seven projects in New York. Most of that, $147 million, is for five improvements along the east-west Empire Corridor, including installing a second track and warning devices between Albany and Schenectady, refurbishing the Rochester and Buffalo-Depew stations for disabled access, upgrading warning devices at 12 grade crossings and engineering studies to raise train speed.

California's trains would be the fastest, exceeding the 200 mph achieved by some trains overseas. - AP