Wednesday, November 18, 1998 (Washington, DC)

NEW ORLEANS—U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced the beginning of a public-private partnership to develop high speed rail by designating a Gulf Coast High Speed Rail Corridor linking New Orleans with Baton Rouge, La.; Houston; Mobile, Ala.; Meridian, Miss.; and Birmingham, Ala.

"Safety is President Clinton’s highest transportation priority, and projects like this are an important part of President Clinton’s vision for America in the 21st century," Secretary Slater said. "Comfortable, reliable, high speed passenger rail service has become an attractive option for travel between major urban centers as highway and airway congestion increases."

Designation of the high speed corridor will make the area eligible to receive federal funds, which will be combined with state and local funds to make grade crossing improvements in the corridor. To eliminate grade crossing hazards, states plan for a mix of grade separations, warning device enhancements and crossing closures. There are approximately 470 grade crossings in the corridor.

"High-speed rail will help ensure flexible choices in shaping our transportation system for the 21st century," FRA Administrator Jolene M. Molitoris said. "High speed rail service will provide some four million residents in the rapidly expanding Gulf Coast area another safe, comfortable and affordable travel option."

This is the first year of a six-year funding program made available under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). A total of $5.25 million has been made available for fiscal year 1999 and the Gulf Coast corridor is expected to receive up to $1 million.

The Gulf Coast states and cities along the route are expected to make a commitment to work with private railroad companies and the federal government to gradually upgrade existing railroad rights-of-way, so that speeds of 90 miles per hour and greater can be achieved. Plans also are underway to link the New Orleans airport and downtown New Orleans to the high speed system.

According to Molitoris, high-speed trains on the Northeast Corridor have demonstrated that high speed train travel can be safe, reliable, economical and comfortable. Trains on the Northeast Corridor already travel at speeds of 125 mph, and will ultimately travel at 150 mph on certain segments.

Currently, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington are investing in upgrades to existing rail corridors in order to provide improved passenger rail service.

Since the cost of electrification can be an obstacle to providing high speed rail service, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is actively engaged in several public-private partnerships in order to provide alternatives to electrification for designated high speed corridors. Under its Next Generation High Speed Rail Program, the FRA is working with the private sector to develop a high speed non-electric locomotive by the year 2000 as well as new satellite-based train control systems and innovative "smart" grade crossing technologies.

The goal of the FRA’s Next Generation program is to provide viable opportunities for all parts of the U.S. where there is sufficient demand for high speed rail service.