California eyes more than half of $8bn federal rail funds

The US State of California will apply for more than half of the $8bn federal stimulus money for high-speed rail projects in the country, after its $4.5bn application received approval from the state's High-Speed Rail Authority.
The funds would come from the government's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The state's application includes $2bn for high-speed train facilities at Los Angeles Union Station, Norwalk Station and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Centre and $1.28bn for the San Jose to San Francisco line to undergo station improvements, grade separations, electrification and install positive train control.
The application also includes $819.5m for the Bakersfield to Fresno line to undergo grade separations, utility relocation, environmental mitigation and earthwork and $466m for similar improvements to the Fresno to Merced line.

According to Railway Technology, the application will now be submitted by the state governor to the federal government by the 2 October deadline.
 

Source: Transportweekly