So Where Does This Leave CT High Speed Rail?

The CT Mirror's Washington reporter, Deirdre Shesgreen covers the eye-opening news of what the federal spending deal, reached by top congressional negotiators on Friday to avert a government shutdown, actually means.

Among other things,”it would slash high-speed rail funding… including a $2.9 billion cut in high-speed rail dollars” which Congressman Joe Courtney calls "counterproductive" for the economy in general and for Connecticut in particular.

“The high-speed rail provision includes a $400 million rescission from the $2.4 billion pot of money Florida's governor rejected earlier this year. Connecticut has applied for $227 million of that money for its proposed New Haven-to-Springfield line, but so have two dozen other states. They will all now be competing for part of a smaller pie, if this spending agreement is approved.”

The $40 million funding just wrapped up last week for double-tracking part of the New Haven – Springfield line is a separate award that appears to be unaffected by the federal spending agreement.

See Budget deal is a mixed bag for Connecticut, by Deirdre Shesgreen for the CT Mirror.