After that experience, LaHood thinks Biden will focus his efforts on “enhancing the current Amtrak system” rather than on splashy, Asian or Euro-style lines that would draw fire from Republicans.
“Given the fact that Biden is such a big Amtrak supporter, I really think he wants to improve rail service with existing lines and with opportunities to provide some connectivity to the current Amtrak line,” he said.
A White House official said that the rail plan includes grants that fall into four categories: Amtrak’s national network, modernization of the Northeast Corridor, intercity passenger rail, and freight rail and safety.
“While the proposed grant program for intercity rail could support new high-speed rail corridors, the ultimate focus of the plan is to support projects that offer the greatest public benefits for their costs,” the official said. “This could mean new high speed rail lines or it could mean other investments that improve service reliability, frequency, or travel time but don’t meet the definitional threshold of ‘high-speed rail.’”
Improving existing service is a far less ambitious vision for rail than many touted at the beginning of the 21st century. But it could also avoid political backlash from Republican governors who might be more receptive to federal money for rail improvements.
With many more details yet to be filled in, it’s possible high-speed rail could get some love in the final package, though.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority and Texas Central, a private effort to build high-speed rail between Dallas and Houston that Biden praised at a 2015 kickoff event, both cheered the $80 billion in funding proposed for rail projects. Texas Central hopes to have “access to funding from the plan like any other eligible project,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Some lawmakers also plan to lobby to get high-speed rail funding included in the final package.
“It is embarrassing that the United States, the richest country in the world, is behind almost every industrialized country when it comes to high speed rail,” Rep. BRENDAN BOYLE (D-Pa.), who endorsed Biden’s campaign early in his campaign, said in a statement. “I will continue to push for it, especially in the Northeast corridor, where it is most needed.”
Despite the 2009 Recovery Act experience, high speed rail still has champions in the administration. Asked about high-speed rail last month at South by Southwest, Transportation Secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG called it “a no-brainer,” according to a transcript of his remarks provided by Texas Central.
"I think that a U.S. citizen ought to enjoy the highest standard of passenger rail service, and there is no reason why what is available to a U.S. citizen, say in Texas, ought to be inferior to the passenger rail options that are available to a Japanese, British, Turkish, Italian or Chinese citizen," Buttigieg said.