Senators seek study of potential Northwest passenger-rail service

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators representing the greater Northwest region this week called on the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a Greater Northwest Working Group for the purpose of working toward the restoration and enhancement of passenger-rail service across the region.

The lawmakers, led by Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), sent a letter to FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose calling for a study of restoring passenger-rail service to the West and Northwest regions.

The letter was co-signed by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Risch (R-Ind.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho),  Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), according to a press release issued by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.

The senators seek to expedite provisions within the $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law last month. The new law includes funding to restore and enhance passenger-rail routes in rural and underserved areas.