Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood presented his agency's $129 billion budget request for fiscal year 2012 today at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing.
The focus of the hearing was on a request for $53 billion infrastructure investment in rails, roads and runways under the president’s economic and job creation agenda. The plan is similar to the projects funded by the stimulus bill that created 15,000 projects and 65,000 jobs.
The Obama administration has proposed a six-year plan that will provide rail access to new communities, as well as improve the reliability, speed and frequency of existing lines and build new corridors where trains traveling at speeds of up to 250 mph. Additionally, the department is seeking $3.1 billion in competitive grants to airports.
