Let me get this straight. The FAST Act required the FRA to issue an RFP, but prohibited them from doing anything about it?
FRA issues RFP for high-speed rail system without federal funding
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) earlier this month issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a high-speed passenger-rail system operating within a high-speed rail corridor.
The catch? There's no federal funding available for such a system, as Congress prohibited in the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act any federal agency from acting on any proposals submitted under the RFP without further action by Congress, according to an FRA notice filed March 11.
Still, the FAST Act required the U.S. transportation secretary to issue an RFP. Responses are due Aug. 31.