This post originally appeared on Orphan Road.

Impressive as it sounds, the $8 billion promised by the Obama administration for high-speed rail isn’t really not all that much money, right? With the California’s system along looking like a $40 billion project, the $8 billion, spread across thousands of miles and a dozen or more corridors, is a proverbial drop in the bucket.

But I don’t think that’s the right way to think about the money. Rather, the $8 billion is a game-changer, a catalyst. It’s about shifting the conversation. In the months since the money was announced, municipalities all over the country have been scrambling to put together proposals, to explain why their region is ready for HSR. Take a look at this recent set of headlines from The Infrastructurist:

  • Proposed Texas HSR network would cost $10-$20 billion, help with HoustonÂ’s Olympic bid, and facilitate hurricane evacs. (Houston Chronicle)
  • Obama touts a “high speed” rail connection between Des Moines and Chicago. Up to 79 mph! (KCCI)
  • US is a half century behind Europe and Japan rail-wise, says head of Washington state rail program. (BBC)
  • Travel writer: Would I use high speed trains? “IÂ’m thinking the answer would be no.” Not unless they were cheap and “seriously fast.” (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  • “Kansas City should be a key national hub” for a national high speed rail network, says KC rail booster. (KC Tribune)
  • High speed rail is on the horizon for Minnesota: A discussion of the opportunities and challenges on MN Public Radio.
  • Editorial: NevadaÂ’s congressional delegation should fight hard to make fancy gambling train–as Sen Jim DeMint calls the LV – LA rail proposal–a reality. (Las Vegas Sun)
  • If you live in LA, youÂ’ll have a couple of opportunities to show public support for the state HSR project next week. (CAHSR Blog)

Simply by chasing the pot of gold, these local politicians have had to meet with rail advocates and contractors, talk to constituents about the benefits or rail, convince the local chamber of commerce to get on board, draft feasibility studies and long-range plans, etc., etc. Even if they don’t get one single federal dollar, they’ve started to create an internal constituency and a set of stakeholders who are interested in pursuing HSR.

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