Dollars from Florida's high-speed rail project up for grabs

On Thursday, Florida Rep. John L. Mica (R) said that he sought to broker a deal that would have allowed private investors into the Florida rail proposal as a hedge against overruns but that Scott could not be persuaded to support what he called a "boondoggle."

The rejected plan called for trains that would have traveled as fast as 170 mph on the 85-mile route from Tampa to Orlando.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and several members of Congress have written to LaHood seeking the funds for rail upgrades along the congested Northeast Corridor.