The California High-Speed Rail Authority received $194 million for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis for 520 miles of its corridor.

The Maryland Department of Transportation received $9 million for improvements to the rail station near Baltimore/Washington International Airport.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation received $17 million to improve rail stations between Charlotte and Raleigh.

The Ohio Department of Transportation received $15 million for preliminary engineering and environmental analysis for the "3-C" corridor, which connects Cincinnati through Dayton and Columbus to Cleveland.

The Vermont Agency of Transportation received $50 million to begin construction to improve 190 miles of track between St. Albans and Vernon on Amtrak's Vermonter line. The improvements will result in increased speeds, reduced travel time, and greater reliability.

"We are making substantial progress in providing funds to states so they may start construction projects or advance their necessary planning," Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo said in a statement. "We are immediately putting people to work while making long-term infrastructure improvements that will change the way we travel in the United States."

FRA has released more than $648 million of the $8 billion provided by the recovery act for high-speed and intercity passenger rail.

More information is available from AASHTO at www.highspeed-rail.org and rail.transportation.org.