WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Baldacci, who serves on the House Railroad Subcommittee, says he is co-sponsoring legislation to fund rail improvement projects in Maine and other areas of the country.

The High-Speed Rail Investment Act would provide $12 billion over 10 years for development of high-speed rail transportation in regional corridors as identified by the U.S. Department of Transportation – including one that Baldacci worked to have designated in Maine last year.

Funding for the initiative would come from the sale of bonds issued by Amtrak. Service could be provided by Amtrak or other railroad companies.

The funding that would result from the bill could be used in the designated corridors for improvements to rights of way, for the installation or upgrading of tracks, for the installation or enhancing of signals, and for other infrastructure costs associated with developing high-speed rail service.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has designated 12 rail corridors as eligible for funding under the bill. Included among them is a northern New England route stretching from Boston through Portland to the Lewiston-Auburn area. It is hoped that passenger service might travel this corridor and be linked to lines extending to Montreal.