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Obama Announces $1.25 Billion for Florida High Speed Rail

January 28, 2010 -- President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden told a town hall meeting in Tampa today that Florida is getting $1.25 billion in federal stimulus money to build a high-speed rail link between Orlando and Tampa.

     

The award is only half of the state's original request for $2.5 billion.  The president said Florida's high speed rail line will create new jobs and reduce pressure on highways.

"That's going to be good for the economy of the region, and it's going ot be good for individual lifestyles," he said, "because people aren't going to be stuck in traffic for two hours.  It'll increase productivity, they'll get to work on time, and they'll be less aggravated."

Construction on the rail line could start as soon as next year.  The train could be operating by 2015.  The project may later include a high-speed link between Orlando and Miami.

 

     

 

 

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