President Obama delivered on a campaign promise Thursday when he announced a plan to lay the groundwork for a high-speed rail network that would serve 10 of the nation’s busiest transportation corridors.

The president, joined by Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, argued improving the nation’s rail system is an economic and environmental necessity. Our overburdened highways and air traffic control systems are stifling growth, he said, and it is time to embrace rail.

The corridors, listed with some of their major stops, eligible for funding include:

• California – San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego
• Pacific Northwest – Eugene, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle and Vancouver, BC
• South Central – Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Little Rock
• Gulf Coast – Houston, New Orleans, Mobile, Birmingham and Atlanta
• Chicago hub network – Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, St. Louis, Kansas City, Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville
• Florida – Orlando, Tampa and Miami
• Southeast – Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Macon, Savannah, Columbia, Jacksonville and Washington, D.C.
• Keystone – Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh
• Empire – New York City, Albany and Buffalo
• Northern New England – Boston, Montreal, Portland, Springfield, New Haven and Albany