Imagine hopping on a train in downtown Tallahassee to spend a weekend in New Orleans’ French Quarter, then coming back, twisting through the rural charm of the Gulf Coast.
John Bel Edwards says he will do 'everything' to get light rail from New Orleans to Baton Rouge
Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards wants to start working with federal officials to establish a passenger rail line between New Orleans and Baton Rouge -- a project Gov. Bobby Jindal refused to support.
"I am going to do everything I can to partner with folks in Washington to make sure that as soon as possible we can pursue light rail," said Edwards at a New Orleans Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting Friday (Dec. 18).
Bringing Back Passenger Train Service in the Panhandle
More than ten years ago, a passenger rail service went through multiple stops here in Northwest Florida, but was never re-established after Hurricane Katrina.
For the past six months, there's been discussion between Amtrak, the Southern Rail Commission, and leaders across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida about restoring a passenger line from New Orleans to Orlando.
Southern Rail Commission releases Amtrak report
MOMENTUM GROWING AS RAIL SERVICE WITHIN REACH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA
The Southern Rail Commission received a report from Amtrak that outlines options and critical steps for the restoration of passenger rail service that was never restored after Hurricane Katrina.
“We have an unprecedented amount of support from elected officials and partners from all over the Gulf Coast region,” said Gregory B. White, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission. “These leaders understand that rail means increased economic, cultural and industrial opportunity. And increased opportunity translates to increased quality of life for our vibrant communities.”
Gulf Coast Passenger Rail progress detailed after Dec. 4 SRC meeting in Mobile
After the Senate approved a $325 billion bill, the Southern Rail Commission provided an update on the progress for restoring rail service along the Gulf Coast.
The meeting hosted mayors from around the region, business and industry groups with a vested interest in rail, and other key stakeholders.
Read more about the meeting and our plan to move Gulf Coast passenger rail forward in the new year.
$325 billion transportation bill could spur Gulf Coast Amtrak line (AL.com)
Gulf Coast Passenger Rail: 3 to 5 years away? (WBRC Fox 6 News)
SRC, Gulf Coast passenger rail featured ahead of Dec. 4 meeting
PENSACOLA, Fla. - There's a push to bring passenger train travel back to Pensacola.
The Southern Rail Commission is starting talks with cities across four states. They have invited mayors from cities across the Gulf Coast to their quarterly meeting to talk about the issue.
Passenger rail service focus of upcoming meeting
It has been roughly 10 years since Amtrak’s Sunset Limited provided passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast, but the Southern Rail Commission will host a meeting in Mobile on Friday, Dec. 4, to discuss the possibility of its return.
FULL COMMISSION MEETING: December 4
This serves as a public notice that the Southern Rail Commission will hold its next Full Commission Meeting on Friday, December 4, 2015 in Mobile, Alabama.
When: Friday, December 4, 2015 at 9:00 am
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Meeting Site: Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel
US DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx: Better Transportation Options Connect People to Jobs
The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation said that urban planners and engineers have a chance to build transit systems that create opportunities for more people.
“We have an opportunity to make this generation of American transportation planning the most restorative in our history,” Anthony Foxx, secretary of the federal transportation department said Wednesday during his closing keynote address to the Louisiana Smart Growth Summit. The 10th annual summit was held Tuesday and Wednesday at the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge.
Proponents say passenger rail from New Orleans to Baton Rouge gaining momentum
The effort to develop a passenger rail line linking New Orleans and Baton Rouge could be gaining momentum.
The topic came up Wednesday during the 10th annual Louisiana Smart Growth Summit at the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge.
Knox Ross, secretary-treasurer of the Southern Rail Commission, an agency set up to promote rail service, said the cities that are succeeding and growing have made tremendous commitments to rail.