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On Tuesday, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Boardman testified at a U.S. House transportation subcommittee hearing to stress the need to appropriate $1.1 billion in the federal fiscal-year 2009 budget for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).

Addressing members of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, Committee on Appropriations, Boardman said the amount would support the FRA's objectives, including those related to Amtrak.

"The requested $1.1 billion will sustain and advance the FRA's mission to improve railroad safety, while providing valuable resources to ensure the continuation of intercity passenger-rail operations," he said.

The largest portion of the FRA's FY2009 request, $900 million, would provide financial assistance for intercity passenger-rail providers, including $800 million in direct subsidies to Amtrak and $100 million to expand a $30 million Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program that was appropriated for the first time in FY2008.

"This funding level will support continued intercity passenger-rail service, while Amtrak's management team continues to make progress in reshaping the company," said Boardman. "This funding level encourages Amtrak to continue to undertake meaningful reforms and control spending."

The FRA's FY2009 funding request also includes $185 million for safety assurance, oversight and enforcement activities; $34 million for research initiatives, including the development of new joint bar inspection technology and procurement of a high-speed ultrasonic rail-flaw detection system; and $1.2 million to expand the implementation of the Close Call Confidential Reporting Pilot (C3RP) program.

"This [C3RP] initiative allows the FRA to more effectively leverage its resources by expanding its partnership with the industry to promote risk reduction programs on the nation's railroads," said Boardman.