DOT: 90+ bids for funds rejected by Florida

Since the Department of Transportation announced the availability of an additional $2.4 billion for high speed rail projects last month—money granted to, and then rejected by, Florida—it has received more than 90 requests from 24 states, the District of Columbia, and Amtrak for a piece of the pie. They add up to $10 billion, more than four times what’s available.

DOT combined its announcement with a fervent pitch for the benefits of the Obama Administration’s high speed rail initiative.

DOT said demand is so high because “elected officials have seen the immediate benefits of jobs where rail work has already begun. They’ve seen these jobs in Maine–where the [Amtrak] Downeaster extension to Brunswick is underconstruction—and they’ve seen them in Illinois—where 96 miles of track are now being laid for the Chicago-St. Louis high speed corridor.

“Demand is high because these leaders—Democrats and Republicans—have also seen the expanded manufacturing activity in Indiana, where the workers of Steel Dynamics are forging track. They know that 30 other manufacturers and suppliers have agreed to build or expand operations in the U.S. should they participate in high speed rail projects. They know that our Buy America requirements ensure they’ll be using American-made supplies and materials, so U.S. companies, workers, and communities will receive the maximum economic benefit of our high speed rail investment.”

The selection process begins this week.