Is High Speed Rail on Track?

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(AP)

Hour 1

The Northeast Rail Corridor was just awarded $795 million to improve train speeds between Boston and Washington.  The money was given out after Florida’s governor rejected federal funds to build high speed rail in the state.  Amtrak will use $450 million to improve tracks and signals in New Jersey, allowing Acela trains to travel 160 mph between Philadelphia and New York.  Money was also awarded to improve the Philadelphia-Harrisburg Keystone Corridor.  But while faster trains may be on track in the Northeast, what about rail projects in the rest of the country?   President Obama has pushed for high speed rail, allocating billions of dollars to fund it.  This hour, hop aboard for a reality check on high speed rail with Bloomberg News railroad policy reporter LISA CARUSO, US High Speed Rail Association President ANDY KUNZ, and Reason Foundation’s transportation policy analyst SAM STALEY.

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[audio: 051711_100630.mp3]

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