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Yesterday, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) gathered Northeast Corridor (NEC) state, municipal and congressional representatives, as well as other NEC stakeholders, to re-launch an effort to improve high-speed passenger-rail service in the region.

The meeting focused on a strategy to get the NEC back in the competition for federal high-speed funds. Northeast state governors are scheduled to meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Feb. 21 to discuss transportation issues.

“The Administration’s $8 billion in stimulus grants disappointingly did not focus on developing true high-speed passenger rail service in the Northeast Corridor,” Mica told the crowd of officials and representatives from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia, according to a prepared statement. “However, it is vital and in our nation’s interest that we continue working to help bring modern, cost-effective high-speed rail to this corridor.”

Mica, who serves as the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, authored legislation in the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 that opened development of U.S. high-speed rail to private sector participation. He since has been advocating for an improved NEC high-speed rail system; Amtrak’s Acela service currently averages 83 mph between Washington, D.C., and New York City. If the NEC featured “true” high-speed service, Amtrak could double or triple ridership on its NEC services, Mica believes.