Rail groups applaud Senate panel's vote on transport bill; Democrats call for high-speed rail funding

Association of American Railroads (AAR) and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) officials yesterday praised the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s bipartisan vote to advance surface-transportation reauthorization legislation.

The proposed Surface Transportation Investment Act, which would authorize $78 billion over five years to modernize surface transportation infrastructure and enhance safety.

Specific to the rail sector, the bill calls for $7.5 billion in rail safety and improvement projects, including the establishment of a new grant program to eliminate grade crossings.

The bill would also increase funding for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant program, which provides essential support to short line and passenger railroads as well as state departments of transportation.

Additionally, the bill authorizes more than $25 billion over five years for intercity passenger rail, provides funding to address Northeast Corridor (NEC) maintenance backlogs and enhances the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program (RRIF).

“By staying focused on vital funding needs and safety, the committee was able to build consensus on a package that makes a solid down payment on our future surface transportation needs,” said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Jefferies in a press release.

Meanwhile, a group of Democratic members of the House and Senate this week held a press conference to argue for more funding for high-speed rail in infrastructure legislation being debated in Congress.

“We have a once in a generation opportunity to invest in infrastructure,” said U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), according to a transcript of the press conference. “We cannot squander that by investing the in the last generation’s infrastructure, High speed rail, high speed broadband, this is the future.”

Moulton earlier this year introduced legislation that would invest billions of dollars into U.S. high-speed rail through grants and other programs.

And, last week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure committee passed a $547 billion transportation bill that included $25 billion for high-speed rail projects. The full House is expected to vote on the bill before July 4, according to the High Speed Rail Alliance.