Since July, the Federal Railroad Administration has pushed to obligate more than $2 billion for high-speed rail, most of it provided by the 2009 stimulus act and, since then, awarded to states and Amtrak. Obligations are a key milestone. Karen Rae, FRA deputy administrator, says, “It basically clears the way for project delivery, ranging from environmental [studies], preliminary engineering, final design and, in many cases, construction.” Industry firms welcome the new work because markets are tough and nearly all other American Recovery and Reinvestment Act infrastructure aid has dried up.
Peter Gertler, HNTB senior vice president, sees FRA's actions as good news. He says, “I think what it means is a lot of these states that were awarded these grants are now going to be able to start to select consultants and actually begin the work that is anticipated. So there's a whole sort of menu of works that will be getting done.”