U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood held a news conference in Iowa City to announce the grants, the second major round of rail grants awarded by the Obama administration. The first round of $8 billion, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, were announced in January. (see Jan. 29 AASHTO Journal story)

Iowa received $230 million from this week's round of grants to create a new intercity passenger rail service between Iowa City and Chicago through the Quad Cities. When completed, the service will form an integral part of the existing efforts to develop the Chicago Hub intercity rail system in the Midwest, according to FRA.

The administration received 132 applications from 32 states totaling nearly $9 billion, more than three times the $2.4 billion available. This round of grants came from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations act.

"These grants will make it possible for states to continue building the infrastructure that will bring high-speed and intercity passenger rail to more areas of the country, and to bring it sooner," said John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. "State departments of transportation are leading the way in developing the nation's 11 corridors for high-speed and intercity passenger service -- projects that will ultimately reduce congestion on our highways, offer new choices and options for travelers, and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil in an environmentally friendly manner."

Rail projects issued grants this week include:

• California received more than $901 million, including $715 million for the construction of new high-speed-rail lines in the Central Valley.
  
  
• Florida received $800 million for the Tampa-to-Orlando high-speed-rail corridor. The state's long-term vision is for a high-speed-rail line that connects Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and other communities.
  
  
• Michigan received $161 million for a high-speed-rail corridor connecting Detroit and Chicago, the two largest cities in the Midwest. The long-term vision for this corridor includes doubling the number of daily round trips between Detroit and Chicago.
  
  
• Virginia was awarded $45 million toward the development of a high-speed passenger train service between Richmond and Washington. When completed, the service is expected to reduce traffic along the congested Interstate 95 corridor.

"Demand for high-speed-rail dollars is intense and it demonstrates just how important this historic initiative is," LaHood said in a statement. "States understand that high-speed rail represents a unique opportunity to create jobs, revitalize our manufacturing base, spur economic development, and provide people with an environmentally friendly transportation option."

More information on how the states are delivering high-speed and intercity passenger rail is available at AASHTO's passenger rail website: www.highspeed-rail.org. A complete list of projects awarded FRA grants this week is available at bit.ly/102910HSRgrants.