rail network last April . Each of the corridors identified by the administration last year are between 100 and 600 miles long . The program is `` a long-term venture in which states will need to plan projects , purchase and lay track , build and assemble equipment , and construct or upgrade train stations , tunnels and bridges , '' the statement said . In addition to the $ 8 billion mentioned by Obama , the plan also includes $ 1 billion a year for five years in the federal budget `` as a down payment to jump-start the program , '' the White House said . Train corridors in the program include : -- San Diego-Los Angeles-San Luis Obispo in California -- Oakland-Sacramento in California -- Portland-Eugene in Oregon -- Seattle-Portland in Washington and Oregon -- Chicago-St . Louis in Illinois and Missouri -- St. Louis-Kansas City in Missouri -- Minneapolis/St . Paul-Madison in Minnesota and Wisconsin -- Madison-Milwaukee in Wisconsin -- Milwaukee-Chicago in Wisconsin and Illinois -- Cleveland-Columbus-Cincinnati in Ohio -- Detroit/Pontiac-Chicago in Michigan , Indiana and Illinois -- Tampa-Orlando in Florida -- Raleigh-Charlotte in North Carolina -- Washington-Richmond in the District of Columbia and Virginia --
Washington -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Obama announced Thursday that the federal government will spend $ 8 billion developing a nationwide high-speed train system -- an investment the White House says is needed to help spur long-term economic growth . The investment , to be made through a series of state grants , will be funded through the government 's $ 862 billion economic stimulus package . Overall , projects and planning involving the rail corridors will take place in 31 states , according to a White House statement . The program `` will help accelerate job growth in an economy that is already beginning to grow , '' Obama said at a town hall at the University of Tampa in Florida . `` There is no reason why other countries can build high-speed rail lines and we ca n't , '' Obama said . More than 30 rail manufacturers have agreed to establish or expand U.S. operations if they are hired to work on the high-speed rail network , the administration said . The president first mentioned the program in his State of the Union speech Wednesday night . The administration initially released an outline for a national high-speed