John Mica: GOP Lawmaker Poised To Head House Transportation Committee Wants To Re-Examine Obama's $10 Billion High-Speed Train Grants

WASHINGTON — The Republican lawmaker in line to head the House Transportation Committee says he wants to re-examine $10 billion in federal grants for high-speed train service, one of President Barack Obama's signature programs.

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., the committee's ranking GOP member, told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday that he believes high-speed trains are a good idea, but he doesn't agree with the projects selected by the Transportation Department for funding.

The biggest awards announced last January were $2.3 billion to California to begin work on an 800-mile-long, high-speed rail line tying Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area to Los Angeles and San Diego; $1.25 billion to Florida to build a rail line connecting Tampa on the West Coast with Orlando in the middle of the state, eventually going south to Miami; $1.1 billion to Missouri and Illinois to improve a rail line between Chicago and St. Louis so that trains travel up to 110 mph, and $810 million to Wisconsin to build a new line between Madison and Milwaukee, which eventually could be part of a line connecting Minneapolis to Chicago.

Mica complained that most of the projects weren't truly high-speed trains like the trains in Europe and Asia. He also said that the Northeast is probably the only region in the United States with a population density great enough to financially support a high-speed rail network.

"I am a strong advocate of high-speed rail, but it has to be where it makes sense," Mica said. "The administration squandered the money, giving it to dozens and dozens of projects that were marginal at best to spend on slow-speed trains to nowhere."

Mica said he wants to "refocus on several projects that could be a success, particularly in the Northeast corridor, which was almost totally neglected by the administration. We'll revisit all of those projects."

Two weeks ago, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a second round of high-speed rail grants. California was awarded an additional $902 million; Florida $800 million.

Mica suggested possibly scaling back the Florida project to a line that runs between the Orlando airport and theme parks and tourist destinations in the Orlando area.

Such a route would have "tremendous potential for actually making money," he said.

Several GOP candidates who won gubernatorial races in Florida and Wisconsin on Tuesday are opposed to proposed rail lines in their states, including Scott Walker in Wisconsin and Florida's Rick Scott. Walker has created a website, notrain.com.

Republican John Kasich, who defeated Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland in Ohio, is also opposed to plans to introduce faster train passenger service there. The administration awarded that project over $400 million earlier this year.

(This version corrects third paragraph that train line between Madison, Milwaukee would be new.)

Comments

[Kenz300]

05:18 PM on 11/08/2010

High speed trains in Japan, China, France, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, South Korea........

Looks like other industrialized countries have high speed rail. One of our problems
is our sole dependence on the automobile for transportation to the exclusion of
all others.

When the price of OIL goes back up to $147 / barrel (and it will) It would be
nice to have a choice of transportation alternatives.

[Olofio]

12:22 AM on 11/08/2010

Trains are so cool that everyone wants to build one. Well, a couple of years ago, here in New Mexico, we did just that. The Railrunner connects Albuquerque and points south with Santa Fe. 500 million dollars later, this giant sucking money hole cannot even begin to pay for itself and never will. On weekdays, you can just about count the passengers on the early train on one hand. We, the state taxpayers, subsidize this white elephant to the tune of $75.00/passenger per trip. The state tried to tell us a few weeks ago that the train was "turning a profit." What they didn't say is that over 80% of that profit is money from the federal government stimulus. Federal or state, it's still taxpayer money. I would like to see the trains here and elsewhere prosper, but to build just because it gives us a fuzzy warm feeling is not the answer. Oh, and by the way: What amounts to about an hour drive from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is about an hour and a half on the train. And that's if it's not hitting a cow when it passes through the reservations.

[Louis Rameau]

06:35 PM on 11/07/2010

Another of those guys who does not believe in evolution or climate change, etc. God help us.

[420]

04:17 PM on 11/07/2010

My god are theses GOP freaks neanderthals? Heck they believe the world started 6000 years ago, we will become and nation of born again dummies

[Dangerous Dan]

01:28 AM on 11/08/2010

I GOP are neanderthals, that makes Congressional Dems, cavemen.
Oppose a vote, Dems cave and water down legislation.

Congressman Mica sound like a man of reason.
You don't need highspeed trains on routes where they can not reach 'high speeds'.
You do not need rail at all where population density does not support the system.
Who would be the first to scream, if people started to build developments around these systems?
Urban sprawl, urban sprawl!

[Kenz300]

10:05 PM on 11/06/2010

How short sighted ! ! ! !

China and the rest of the world are building bullet trains and we are still worried about
protecting SUV's.

If PEAK OIL theorists are correct and the rising demand from China and India soon
cause world oil demand to exceed world oil supply we will wish we had fuel efficient
trains to ride on.

If oil goes back to $147 / barrel or greater it will have a huge impact on our transportation
system and our economy.

Our economic security and national security demand that we produce clean, sustainable
alternative energy. Wind, solar, geothermal and biofuels all need to ramp up production.

We have been too dependent on the automobile and oil for it's fuel. It is time to diversify
our energy sources and our transportation alternatives.

[JHKH]

07:03 PM on 11/06/2010

GOP probably favors more SUVs on highways we won't maintain.

[JosephTX]

06:56 PM on 11/06/2010

At least he makes a point to voice his concerns, even if most of them aren't warranted. My problem with California's plans is also that they aren't actually high-speed like those in Europe and Asia, but he's full of shit if he thinks California isn't densely populated enough for it. Texas' main cities are also good candidates for high-speed rail, as are routes from the Northeast to Chicago. Florida would also benefit from high-speed rail (so much that Disney's a big contributor to the plans for a rail lines connecting to Orlando and surrounding areas.

Basically, any route with high air traffic and

[Dangerous Dan]

01:31 AM on 11/08/2010

And in 10 years we begin to hear of train derailments for lack of infratructure maintenence.

[gallon]

05:51 PM on 11/06/2010

GOP, the high speed trains aren't for you. They are for the rest of us in the future when gasoline has risen to fifteen dollars a gallon. We could see that price in a few years with a new gulf conflict, or we could see it in another couple of decades as peak oil has passed yet demand has still increased.

GOP you have no vision. None. None at all. You are completely owned by your industrial and wall street masters. The rest of the world gets it. The GOP does not.

Republicans, what are they good for?

[MSELLIE]

03:25 PM on 11/07/2010

This high speed rail may conflict with their airplane contributors

[bcmom]

12:05 PM on 11/06/2010

Do these idiots who have been elected ever travel? Our transportation system is so antiquated it would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

[farmilyman]

08:14 AM on 11/06/2010

Mica prefers America decline to third world status.

[mogulmag]

06:34 PM on 11/05/2010

buuu buuuu

[conservicide]

06:19 AM on 11/06/2010

I saw Mica floating around in the B terminal latrine at the Orlando airport. Had a little accident, got some Mica on my haynes. Repugs don't have Mica for brains.

[gnorrfa]

03:19 PM on 11/05/2010

Gawd! The republicans think they won the whole kit and kabbudle tuesday! what incredible arrogance. they're gonna stop everything and pull down all that's been put in place? they own the house and the supreme court. the senate and the president are there to give it the big OK? the american people have spoken and they're sick and tired of both parties.

[PartyOfMaybe]

01:53 PM on 11/05/2010

Why would anyone want to ride a train from Cleveland to Cincinnati, Tampa to Orlando, Chicago to St. Louis, or Charlotte to Atlanta? It takes two or three hours to drive, you don't have to sit next to a stranger that might mug you, and you can stop anywhere you want when you're in a car. Think of all the things you can't do in a train on that ride between Orlando and Tampa.... the kids are misbehaving, but you can't spank them on the train... there's an orange grove, but you can't stop and buy oranges because the train is still speeding along.... there's a t-shirt store, but the train's not stopping there either

[GinaCucina]

02:03 PM on 11/05/2010

Did you know it takes far less fuel (and less pollution) to move a ton of freight/passengers by train than by a gasoline/diesel powered vehicle? And how about the opportunity to enjoy your trip by playing games with the kids, enjoying the scenery, and taking a pit stop without losing time? (Maybe the kids are misbehaving because they're freaking bored in the back seat of the car.)

[PartyOfMaybe]

02:11 PM on 11/05/2010

that's dumb. nobody wants to go on vacation if they can't stop along the way.

[oxjr]

01:01 AM on 11/07/2010

You do realize you are trying to talk sense to someone who listed 'wacking' his kids as a reason to drive instead of using a train?? Somehow I doubt you can actually talk sense into the dude.

[oxjr]

12:58 AM on 11/07/2010

Hey I have a horse and buggy to sell you. You are thinking so 20th century. The younger generation is increasingly finding driving a ''chore'' I am glad you want to go on long tedious road trips but your kids would rather read their Kindle, plan the vacation on their iPad, and text their friends. Not to mention the joy of being able to go to the bathroom anytime they want and being able to stretch their legs.
http://pewresearch.org/assets/social/pdf/Cars.pdf

[I3addog]

10:52 AM on 11/05/2010

Of course they are, they love big oil.

[Kurn]

10:08 AM on 11/05/2010

I do know that the 3C corridor(Cleveland-Cincinnati)project is dead.Killing it is job#1 for Kasich(R-Fox News),unfortunately.Although just a regular rail line,it would have provided a alternative to the horror of I-71,and basically see if the market is there for something better.It also would have provided much needed jobs in Ohio.I believe Amtrak as a whole is now in jeopardy due to the events of last Tuesday.