Lawmakers concerned about cost are considering rejecting federal funds to improve high-speed passenger train service between Charlotte and Raleigh. The House Transportation Committee began debate Tuesday on a measure to bar the state Transportation Department from accepting $460 million in federal funds unless the Republican-led General Assembly approves. Newly elected Republican governors in Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio have turned down funds previously agreed to by their Democratic predecessors. Rep. Ric Killian, R-Mecklenburg and a bill sponsor, said he’s worried the state will be left with a big annual maintenance bill for the train service.

Barry Jenkins of Carolinas’ Associated General Contractors asked lawmakers to take the money, which he said would mean thousands of construction jobs on roads and bridges to separate road and rail traffic. “We’re dealing with 20 percent unemployment in our industry in North Carolina,” said Jenkins. But Killian dismissed the jobs issue. “Folks, what we need are private sector jobs,” Killian told the committee. “We do not need publicly financed jobs.”

Killian argued that freight railroad service would be hurt by projects to double-track the line between Charlotte and Greensboro, to straighten curves, to build bridges to separate cars and trains at crossings, and to put more passenger trains on the line. “If you create a chokepoint between Charlotte and Raleigh by putting in a high-speed rail line that effectively bisects that right of way in several places, you’re not going to have the ability to add freight in the future,” Killian said. The committee did not vote on the measure Tuesday.(THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 3/29/11; Bruce Siceloff, THE NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/30/11).