Amtrak applies for half of Florida rail money

Amtrak applied for more than half of the money rejected by the state of Florida for a proposed railway there.

On Monday, the national rail service requested $1.3 billion of the $2.4 billion that Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) turned down, according to a senator from one of the state's the proposed railway would run through.

“This funding would mark a critical step forward for the Gateway Project," Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) said in a statement Tuesday. "I am pleased with how Amtrak is moving ahead and putting the wheels in motion. Rail transportation is critical to the economic success of New Jersey and all of the Northeast Corridor, and these projects will benefit our commuters, businesses, and families.”

The Gateway Project would expand New York's Penn Station and add more commuter trains to New Jersey, as well as additional Amtrak service.

The Department of Transportation gave states that were interested in the high-speed rail money rejected by Florida were given until this week to submit applications.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reopened the application process for the money after Scott said he would not accept it on Florida's behalf. State lawmakers sought to force him to take the money by suing, but the Florida Supreme Court ruled Scott had the right to reject the Obama administration's rail money.

Had it been accepted, the money would have paid for 90 percent of the construction cost of a railway between Tampa and Orlando.