Governor Martin O'Malley Announces Formal Application for Federal High-Speed Rail Funding

[madinmaryland]

ANNAPOLIS, MD (April 5, 2011)–Governor Martin O’Malley announced today that Maryland has formally submitted two applications for funding under the Federal Railroad Administration’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program for portions of the $2.4 billion made available when Florida Governor Rick Scott refused his state’s high speed rail funds. The specific projects in Maryland’s two requests would support more than 2,300 jobs.

Governor O’Malley is requesting federal investments for improvements to the Amtrak/MARC rail station at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and studies to ultimately replace three Penn Line bridges in northeast Maryland. These projects are top priorities for the O’Malley-Brown Administration, and through correspondence and direct conversations with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, the Governor has advocated for federal funding of these jobs-generating projects in the past.

“President Obama continues to lead our country toward economic recovery by investing in the important infrastructure needs of Maryland and the rest of our nation,” said Governor O’Malley. “These investments can create thousands of jobs for Marylanders, and we will continue to aggressively pursue every opportunity to help rebuild our infrastructure, create jobs, and fuel economic progress throughout our State.”

“The Penn Line through Maryland serves as the backbone of rail in the region,” said Secretary Swaim-Staley. “Investments made here will benefit not only Maryland but the entire northeast corridor which is the only existing high speed rail system in the nation. Funding these projects will positively impact rail in the region and offer the promise of immediate jobs in engineering and construction, two sectors that have been hard hit by the economic downturn.”

Read more at: http://www.governor.maryland.gov/pressreleases/110405b.asp

Thanks to governors in other states, there will be even more job creation in Maryland!!