$1 Million in high-speed rail grants for Georgia, Kansas.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said $750,000 in grants for Georgia and $250,000 in grants for Kansas will further develop their high-speed rail programs. The Georgia grants, from the Federal Railroad Administration's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program, come in three portions: $250,000 to develop an interstate rail network compact with neighboring states; $250,000 for an Atlanta to Birmingham, Ala., feasibility study; and, $250,000 for a Macon, Ga., to Jacksonville, Fla., feasibility study.

The $250,000 grant to
Kansas Department of Transportation is to develop a service development plan
for interstate passenger rail service between Kansas City and Oklahoma City,
Okla., and a potential connection to Ft. Worth, Texas. Kansas Department of
Transportation will contribute an additional $450,000 for this planning.

FRA has now released more
than $648 million for the HSIPR program, the significant portion of which comes
from the $8 billion provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for
the development of high-speed rail corridors.