By RAJU CHEBIUM
Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - States in the Northeast will happily accept the $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail money that Florida has said it doesn't want, five senators told Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Wednesday.
Delaware Sens. Tom Carper and Chris Coons, New Jersey Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, and Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, all Democrats, urged LaHood at a meeting to redirect money rejected by Republican Gov. Rick Scott of Florida to the Northeast Corridor.
Scott has said he doubts the rail project would draw enough riders. He also said it could end up costing Florida billions in construction-cost overruns and operating costs.
LaHood made no promises to the senators and didn't say when he'll decide what to do with the money, which was meant to help build a high-speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando.
"I was encouraged by the meeting," Coons said. "There were no formal commitments made."
Carper, a longtime Amtrak advocate, said he's optimistic the Northeast Corridor will get at least some of the money.
"I am grateful when we have the opportunity to make our case face-to-face," he said.
Ten Northeastern senators - including the five at Wednesday's meeting - and 38 House members led by Rep. John Carney, D-Del., wrote to LaHood recently, urging him to redirect the Florida grant to the Northeast Corridor.
Wednesday's meeting, held in Lautenberg's office, comes a day after LaHood said there's high demand for the $2.4 billion.
"There are long lines outside of my door of people who want the Florida money," he said.
-
Contact Raju Chebium at [email protected]
