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Sen. Schumer calls for more funding for high speed rail

By BOB DRISCOLL

ALBANY -- Senator Charles Schumer urged the committee reconciling the House and Senate Transportation Appropriations bills to retain the funding level of $4 billion in the House legislation for the High Speed and Intercity Rail program for Fiscal Year 2010.   

The House legislation provides $4 billion, while the Senate only provides $1.2 billion.  Wednesday, Schumer asked that the House funding level be used in the final bill. 

"We are at the beginning of a new age for transportation, and we must provide proper funding to complete these projects, like high-speed rail in Upstate New York, which could have a significant impact on the way we move people throughout the state and country," said Schumer.

"Retaining these funding levels will help expand our transportation infrastructure and potentially make the dream of high speed rail a reality and that is why I am urging the THUD Committee to retain the current funding levels for these two programs."