Iorio touts high speed rail line between Tampa and Orlando listen

Tags: Transportation, high-speed rail, Pam Iorio

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio

photo by Seán Kinane/WMNF (April 2009)

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood is in Spain today to speak with companies involved in high-speed rail construction. LaHood traveled to other European countries this week and rode on France’s 200 mph bullet train because President Barack Obama has allocated $13 billion in stimulus funds to improve existing rail lines and construct new high-speed lines.

Last week in Orlando, the Florida Department of Transportation met with officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration to discuss high-speed rail projects in Florida. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio was at the high-speed rail meeting and WMNF spoke with her the following day.

“Eight billion dollars has been made available through the Obama administration for high-speed rail throughout the country. … Well the good news for Florida is that a lot of work had been done on high-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando years ago. We hope to capture $2 to 3 billion …

"The speed would probably be between 110 and 150 miles per hour and the first route would be between Tampa and Orlando, Orlando then down to Miami. … Now federal stimulus money has brought it back to life.”

Federal Railroad Administration’s high-speed rail strategic plan

Obama on high speed rail