O'Malley would pursue money Florida spurned
In the previous blog posting, I wondered whether Maryland would pursue a share of the $2.4 billion in stimulus funds Florida Gov. Rick Scott turned down, essentially scuttling a high-speed rail project.
We didn't have to wait long for an answer. Shaun Adamec, spokesman for Gov. Martin O'Malley, said Maryland would be happy to compete for the money Florida's Republican chief executive spurned. Adamec passed this along:
The Governor will certainly pursue any funds available that can help create jobs and rebuild Maryland’s infrastructure. This is not unprecedented. You’ll recall the example of Talgo, that then-WI-Gov Doyle courted to execute a deal to build a high speed rail system from Milwaukee to Madison. Gov. Doyle teed it up so that federal funds would provide the necessary $810M investment to make the deal work, but [new Republican Gov.] Scott Walker ultimately turned down the money, and Talgo pulled out. And now Pat Quinn (Democratic Governor of IL) has courted Talgo to come there instead, bringing the investment and the jobs to the people of Illinois. It’s hard to imagine just how well the people of Wisconsin were served by political posturing that ultimately resulted in watching millions in investment and thousands of jobs walk over the border to Illinois.
Categories: Amtrak/intercity railroads
Comments
The politics of this aside...$2.4 b. would make a nice dent into what I see as the most major rail issue in this state, the Baltimore tunnels: CSX's Howard Street tunnel for freight, and Amtrak's B&P tunnel in West Baltimore. I think the latter got some ARRA funding for some design work, but nothing for construction.
Alternatively, it could be used to spot-treat issues along the MARC lines: additional tracks and sidings here and there, signal system upgrades, etc.
Posted by: Traffic Engineer | February 17, 2011 8:43 AM