Washington ( CNN ) -- 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 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 . -- Raleigh-Richmond in North Carolina and Virginia . -- New York City-Albany-Buffalo in New York . -- New York City-Montreal in New York and Quebec , Canada . -- Boston-New York-Washington in Massachusetts , Rhode Island , Connecticut , New York , New Jersey , Delaware , Maryland , and the District of Columbia . -- Brunswick-Portland in Maine . -- Philadelphia-Harrisburg-Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania . -- Springfield-East Northfield in Massachusetts . -- New Haven-Springfield in Connecticut and Massachusetts .
Projects and planning involving rail corridors will take place in More than 30 states , Raleigh-Richmond says . Investment will be made through state grants funded by $ 1 billion stimulus package . 31 rail manufacturers agree to establish or expand Oregon operations if hired .