advertisement

---

Today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood spoke at the Chairman’s Luncheon for the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting, which is being held this week at the Connecticut Avenue Collection hotels in Washington, D.C.

During his remarks, LaHood discussed a new round of economic recovery funding currently being considered in Congress, saying the final bill should “reflect a robust investment in highways, transit, marine highways, aviation and rail.”

LaHood briefly addressed the stimulus funding currently available for high-speed rail.

“We are about to award $8 billion in grants to jump-start high-speed passenger-rail service in key corridors around the country,” he said. “More than 30 rail industry manufacturers and suppliers have promised to establish or expand their base of operations in the U.S. if they’re chosen by the states to build America’s new high-speed rail lines. I’ll make sure those investments in manufacturing help our most distressed communities in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.”