Rail Across the Nation

Since 1992, cities across the country have benefited from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program, which provides up to 80 percent funding for construction of rail and rapid bus projects. Cities are responsible for the remaining construction and operating costs.

They also must produce a plan that demonstrates how their projects will cut travel time for commuters; increase mobility for low-income residents; reduce smog, energy consumption, and transit operating costs; serve residential and employment areas that are compactly developed; and coincide with plans to limit sprawl and encourage dense development.

COMMUTER RAIL

In line for federal funding in 2001
Chicago
Funded
Baltimore — 1995
Ft. Lauderdale — 2000
Commuter Rail: Regional rail between metropolitan and suburban areas

RAPID BUS

Funded
Boston — 1995
Houston — 1995
Pittsburgh — 1995
Rapid Bus: Train-like buses that travel in express corridors

LIGHT RAIL

In line for federal funding in 2001
Baltimore
Denver
Memphis
Minneapolis
Northern New Jersey
Pittsburgh
Seattle
Funded
Baltimore — 1995
Dallas —1994, 2000
Denver — 1996
Jacksonville, FL — monorail 1994
Newark — 2000
Northern New Jersey — 1997
Portland — 1992, 2000
St. Louis — 1997
Sacramento — 1997
Salt Lake City — 1995, 2000
San Diego — 2000
San Jose — 1996
San Juan — 1996
Light Rail: Electric trains that mix with other traffic

HEAVY RAIL

In line for federal funding in 2001
Chicago
Washington D.C.
Funded
Atlanta — 1994
Los Angeles — 1993
New Jersey — 1995
New York — 1994
San Francisco — 1993, 1997
Washington D.C. — 1994
Heavy Rail: High-speed rail in separate right-of-way