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Yesterday, the Midwest High Speed Rail Association (MHSRA) urged the Senate to match the House’s $4 billion commitment to high-speed rail in 2010. The association also urged Congress to include $100 million in planning funds for 220 mph train service.

The House appropriated $4 billion in the 2010 transportation appropriations bill (H.R. 3288), but the Senate only included $1.2 billion. A conference committee is scheduled to be held in the coming weeks.

“The appropriation in the Senate version is insufficient to meet the strong demand for intercity passenger-rail projects in dozens of states,” MHSRA officials said in a prepared statement. “Earlier this month, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it had received applications from 24 states totaling $50 billion this year, with just $8 billion allocated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.”

MHSRA is proposing 220 mph high-speed rail service by 2030 that would link Chicago;  St. Louis; the Twin Cities; Milwaukee; Detroit; Indianapolis; Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; and Pittsburgh.