Federal transportation officials say 24 states, the District of Columbia and Amtrak are competing for $2.4 billion in high-speed rail money that was to have gone to a project in Florida.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement released Wednesday that his department is reviewing 90 rail project applications requesting a total of $10 billion.
The deadline for the applications was Monday.
Last month, LaHood took back the $2.4 billion that had been designated for a Florida project that would have connected Tampa and Orlando with high-speed trains. Gov. Rick Scott canceled the project, saying he didn’t want to obligate the state to make up any operating losses.
A state government report had forecast the project would be profitable.