More on this soon — in the meantime, an 11-minute clip from this morning’s presser. It is probably the most impressively full-throated effort in recent history to sell Americans on rail.

In fact, he doesn’t pull any punches in saying that rail is a *better* way to travel than car or plane. It’s “faster, easier, and cheaper than building more freeways.” And he conjures the appeal of travel from city center to city center without having to dash out to far-flung airports — “no sitting on the tarmac, no lost luggage, no taking off your shoes.” And: “High-speed rail is long-overdue, and this plan lets American travelers know that they are not doomed to a future of long lines at the airports or jammed cars on the highways.”

Given the way American politicians generally go about shamelessly trying avoid giving even minor offense to large and powerful industries (e.g., road builders, car makers, or airlines), it’s an impressively blunt assessment.

Plus he offered France as a role model. Mon Dieu! That takes real political courage, what with the “cheese eating surrender monkey” set always ready to pounce on any half positive remark about that nation.

Some specific details from the plan after the jump:

From the administration’s strategic plan:

• First round of applications will focus on projects that can be completed quickly and yield measurable, near-term job creation and other public benefits.

• Next round to include proposals for comprehensive high-speed programs covering entire corridors or sections of corridors.

• Additional funds will be available for planning to help jump-start corridors not yet ready for construction.

o Ten major corridors are being identified for potential high-speed rail projects:

• California Corridor (Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego)
• Pacific Northwest Corridor (Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver BC)
• South Central Corridor (Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Little Rock)
• Gulf Coast Corridor (Houston, New Orleans, , Mobile, Birmingham, Atlanta)
• Chicago Hub Network (Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville,)
• Florida Corridor( (Orlando, Tampa, Miami)
• Southeast Corridor ((Washington, Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Columbia, , Savannah, Jacksonville)
• Keystone Corridor ((Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh)
• Empire Corridor ((New York City, Albany, Buffalo)
• Northern New England Corridor ((Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven, Albany)

Also, opportunities exist for the Northeast Corridor (Washington, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, New Haven, Providence, Boston) to compete for funds for improvements to the nation’s only existing high-speed rail service, and for establishment and upgrades to passenger rail services in other parts of the country.

Tags: THE RAIL WORLD