Indicating the Obama administration’s commitment to high-speed rail, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told a group of transportation leaders meeting at a conference on U.S. rail development in New York yesterday (Nov. 18) that the administration will redistribute rail funds spurned by new Republican governors in Ohio and Wisconsin.

LaHood said his staff was compiling a list of states that would be best served by the additional funds and would allocate the money to states moving forward on rail projects.

Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich and Wisconsin Gov.-elect Scott Walker have both said they plan to cancel high-speed rail projects and return federal grants for the work. Ohio received $400 million, and Wisconsin was given $810 million. Newly elected Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) is also contemplating canceling work in his state, which could free up more than $2 billion.

The redistributed rail funds could go to Illinois, California and New York. The administration may also redistribute Federal Transit Administration money returned by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who canceled a transit line to Manhattan, blaming rising costs.

New York state received $28.5 million in the most recent round of federal rail funding for the “Empire Corridor,” which would connect New York City to Niagara Falls, Albany and Buffalo.

“New York really symbolizes what can be the public policy of the future,” said the state’s outgoing governor, David Paterson (D). “I made it clear from the time I came into office that there will be high-speed rail in New York, and we have gotten high-speed happy around the state over the past few months.”

Paterson’s comments were echoed by Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and state Senate President Malcolm Smith (D). Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, who served under Republican President George W. Bush, said the freed-up money should go to New York, the Northeast corridor and California. ”Where some people see a dead end, others see opportunity,” said Mineta, who also chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 1993 to 1995.

California, Florida and the Midwest have rail projects with plans are further along and would connect more populated cities than those of New York. However, Andy Kunz, president of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, which hosted the conference, said New York has the population density and demonstrated need to make rail successful.

“This is the center of rail use in America,” Kunz said. “There’s so many people in Manhattan that don’t own cars so they’d all appreciate a great rail system.”