15 States Split Florida Rail Money

The Hill reports:

Most of the $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail money that was rejected by Florida had been divvied up between 15 states, Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood announced Monday.

LaHood said that he was awarding $2.02 billion to 22 projects in 15 states, mostly in the Northeast and Midwest. California also received funds.

The biggest winners were in the Northeast rail corridor, which will get $795 million. Projects in the Midwest, including a Chicago-to-St. Louis Railway, will get a total of $404.1 million with $186 million going to the Chicago-St. Louis line. California will get $300 million to add 20 miles to its proposed Los Angeles to San Francisco line.

Twenty four states applied for the money that had been earmarked for a fast train connecting Tampa and Orlando. Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) rejected the funds, so LaHood opened up the money to other states.

LaHood said the projects would create jobs in the states that received the funds.