Railroads

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday that Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s (R) objections were not indicative of residents' opinion about fast trains in the rest of the state.
 
"There are thousands of people that have been working on high-speed rail in Florida for 20 years and they are deeply disappointed that one guy decided they weren't going to accept the second largest amount of money," LaHood said during an MSBNC interview.
 
"This is one guy only, and eventually Florida will get in the high-speed rail business," LaHood said.

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica said Monday that the Obama administration had gotten it wrong again on high-speed rail when it awarded about $2 billion to 15 states.
 
Mica (R-Fla.) said the administration was too focused on projects involving Amtrak, which he has frequently derided as a "Soviet-style" operation.
 
“Once again, the Administration has scattered funding to numerous slower-speed rail projects, and allowed Amtrak to hijack 21 of the 22 grants," Mica said in a statement.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has fans in 15 states other than the one he governs, thanks to his decision to reject more than $2 billion in high-speed-rail money that other states were glad to be awarded Monday.

Several supporters of proposals to build more of the fast railways took to Twitter to show Scott their gratitude.

"Thrilled that Sec @RayLaHood has awarded $800m in #HSR investments rejected by FL's gov to the #NY region," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said on Twitter Monday.

"Florida's loss has become Delaware's gain. DOT made right decision in sending $800m to the Northeast Corridor," Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said on the website.

Prominent liberal commentators also got in on the act of sending faux thanks Scott's way.

Sen. Charles Schumer is calling for a "Do Not Ride" list for Amtrak following reports that terrorist Osama bin Laden was plotting attacks on U.S. railways before his death.

The list would be similar to the "Do Not Fly" registry that is checked before passengers board flights at airports. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that it's a lot easier for would-be terrorists to get on trains that it has been for them to board airplanes.

“Anyone, even a member of al Qaeda, could purchase a train ticket and board an Amtrak train without so much as a question asked,” Schumer said in a weekend interview with WCBS radio in New York.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The Northeast emerged as the big winner in the sweepstakes for Florida's rejected rail money.

Bombardier is going to make high-speed train parts.

There isn't much transportation-related happening in the Texas state legislative session.

New Jersey drivers should be ready for their close-ups on the Atlantic City Expressway toll road.

The Northeast corridor will get $795 million of the money Florida rejected. Projects in the Midwest will get $404 million.

Osama bin Laden's threat to the rail system has raised concern, but nobody wants X-rays and pat downs.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will make announcements about high-speed rail in New York City and Detroit on Monday, the Department of Transportation said Friday.

LaHood has made $400 million of the $2.4 billion that was once offered to Florida available to other states, and both New York and Michigan have applied. Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin (D) and Mark Kirk (R) have already revealed that their state is getting $186 million of the money.

Democrats from Florida have recoiled while watching other states claim the money their Gov. Rick Scott (R) turned down.

Sen. Bill Nelson's (D-Fla.) office circulated the news of Illinois's award this week in an email with the subject "Oh the pain."

Illinois will get $186 million of the high-speed rail money that was turned down this spring by Florida.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

An AirTran plane flying to Atlanta was diverted to South Carolina when one of its engines failed.

Bus and train operators in Minneapolis have signed a labor agreement for the next two years.

One railway in Florida may get the OK.

A Georgia man stole $2 million in goods being shipped via truck.