A Federal panel (Passenger Rail Working Group or PRWG) have made a new recommendation for rail infrastructure improvements in the US, and call for an increase in auto fuel taxes to pay for it. Currently, the tax is at 18.4 cents per gallon, and the panel recommends an increase of 5-8 cents to help pay for these and other unfunded infrastructure discrepancies within the US highway system.
Note the already mentioned Cascade Corridor upgrade to 79-110 mph, but also the new Amtrak service from Portland to Boise, Salt Lake, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
info found from: Susan Pantell With Light Rail Now Project Team · April 2008 www.lightrailnow.org