High-speed rail along the corridor is suddenly clipping along, 10/12 reports. On Monday morning, the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission — which is working to link Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama via rapid rail service — will deliver a report to members of the Legislature’s Joint Highway Priority Construction Committee. Commission officials could not be reached for details about the report, but all indications are that the federal stimulus package has sped up work on the project. The Department of Transportation and Development has indicated it plans to request money from the $8 billion pot set aside for high-speed rail and inter-city passenger rail projects for a New Orleans-to-Baton Rouge service. Such a line would cost $110 million to upgrade existing freight lines and terminals.
East Texas Corridor Council authorities voiced support Tuesday for a bill before the Texas Legislature that would allow that state to join the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, strengthening the possibility of a Louisiana-to-Houston route. Texas State Rep. Tommy Merritt has introduced a separate bill seeking to create a high-speed rail authority for the Texas-Louisiana region that could go after some of the stimulus money on its own. The Joint Highway Priority Construction Committee is set to meet at 9 a.m. Monday. To read more about efforts to bring high-speed rail to the corridor, click here. To read the rest of 10/12 Weekly, click here.—Penny Brown Font
