U.S. High-Speed Rail Funding Advances with New Bill and California Grant Request

Democratic lawmakers have re‑introduced the American High‑Speed Rail Act, a bill that would allocate $205 billion over five years for a national high‑speed rail network. The legislation would make funding automatic, tied to transit‑oriented development, and include incentives for private investment. Representative Seth Moulton (D‑Mass.) said the plan would create millions of good‑paying jobs and help fight climate change, while co‑sponsor Rep. Suzan Del Bene highlighted its potential to ease highway congestion and lower carbon emissions.

Separately, California’s High‑Speed Rail Authority has applied for $396 million in federal grants, matched by $99 million from the state’s cap‑and‑trade program, to build a 30‑mile segment between Madera and Merced in the Central Valley. The request follows the Trump administration’s 2022 withdrawal of $4 billion from the project. The authority says the extension will improve safety, reliability and travel times, and aims to continue the statewide effort to connect the Bay Area with Los Angeles despite the project's growing costs and delays.