President Obama has promised to speed up the progress of four major rail projects as part of the ‘We Can’t Wait’ campaign.
Improvements to the Devils Lake rail line, the Kennebec Bridge Replacement Project, the Columbia River Crossing and the Point Defiance Bypass were all highlighted as key priorities this week.
The announcement is one part of a number of measures being taken independently by the White House to kickstart the economy.
Earlier in the year the Office of Management and Budget was tasked with speeding up the process of permitting and reviewing infrastructure projects.
One of the projects identified is the $3.5 billion Columbia River Crossing project to replace the I-5 bridges over the Columbia River connecting Vancouver, Washington, to Portland, Oregon, and extend an existing light rail system to create a rail transit link between Portland and Vancouver.
The Administration is committed to doing its part to help communities across the country move forward with these critical projects as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Ray LaHood
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said: “Across the country our investments in infrastructure are putting people back to work building and modernising our transit systems, railroads, bridges and highways.
“The Administration is committed to doing its part to help communities across the country move forward with these critical projects as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
Last week, the Department of Transportation was given the ability to use its unspent earmarked highway funds on any eligible highway, transit, passenger rail, or port project.
States must identify the projects they plan to use the funds for by October 1, and must obligate them by December 31, 2012.
Following the announcement, President Obama said: “My administration will continue to do everything we can to put Americans back to work.
“We’re not going to let politics stand between construction workers and good jobs repairing our roads and bridges.”
