High-Speed Rail Proposed

Plans for a high-speed rail line have taken a baby step forward, but a two-hour trip from New York to Washington D.C. still faces hurdles. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein reports.

REPORTER: Joined by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters at Penn Station, Mayor Michael Bloomberg ticked off the benefits of high-speed rail transit. He said it's better for the economy, would relieve traffic congestion, and would even speed up national air travel. But the mayor was peppered with questions from reporters who wondered how it would be paid for, how long it would take to build, and whether the project would get union and public support.

BLOOMBERG: A year ago this country spent $150 billion on a stimulus program, which fundamentally mailed checks to people so they could buy flat screen TVs made in Chinese factories which have since closed, and sold by Circuit City which has since gone bankrupt.

REPORTER: The U.S. Department of Transportation solicited design proposals for 11 high speed rail lines yesterday, but officials wouldn't give a target date for the rail service to begin. For WNYC, I'm Andrea Bernstein.