24 States Compete for Florida's $2.4 Billion

24 states have submitted a total of nearly $10 billion in applications for $2.4 billion in federal high-speed rail funds rejected by Florida Governor Rick Scott.

In the Midwest, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Missouri have submitted a joint application for $807 million for new trains.

Illinois applied for an additional $186 million to continue the Chicago-St. Louis corridor upgrades.

Missouri has applied for $1 billion, including $373 million to improve and upgrade rail equipment and infrastructure between St. Louis and Kansas City and another $600 million for long-term planning and design of a Missouri high-speed rail line.

Michigan is asking for $200 million, nearly all of which would go toward increasing speeds to 110 mph between Kalamazoo and Dearborn. The improvements could reduce the trip from five to four hours.

Wisconsin is seeking $150 million for a trainshed at the Milwaukee station, a maintenance facility, and two more trains.

California, meanwhile, has requested all of the available $2.4 billion for its planned network.

North Carolina seeks $624 million to upgrade service between Raleigh and Charlotte and begin work on a new route between Raleigh and Richmond, Virginia

New York has applied for $517 million for improvements to the Northeast Corridor and the New York-Buffalo route.

Pennsylvania wants $248 million to upgrade the Philadelphia-Harrisburg corridor. Top speeds on portions of the route would increase from the current 110 mph to 125 mph, cutting the trip from 90 to 70 minutes.

Maryland is requesting $415 million for the Northeast Corridor and track and station improvements.

Connecticut has applied for $227 million for 110-mph service on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line with 50 trains per day.

Washington state wants $120 million to add two daily trains between Seattle and Portland, Oregon and for other infrastructure improvements.

Amtrak has also applied for $1.3 billion to go toward the $13.5 billion Gateway Tunnel project, which includes a new alignment between Penn Station Newark and Penn Station New York, new bridges, and new tunnels under the Hudson River.