Infrastructure planning for Gonzales train station on track

GONZALES - A kick-off meeting last week between Gonzales city administrators and train transportation experts set into motion the planning for what will be needed, and how much it will cost, to build a train station here.

Gonzales would be one of seven stops along a future commuter rail line envisioned between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, although a financing source has not yet been identified for the long-discussed major initiative. 

To read more, CLICK HERE

NARP: Amtrak long-distance trains boost local, national economies

Ending funding of Amtrak long-distance routes would disproportionately affect low income households in rural communities across the country, according to a report released today by the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP).

NARP's "Dismantling a National Transportation Network" report was issued in response to President Donald Trump's fiscal-year 2018 budget proposal earlier this year that called for cutting funding to certain long-distance routes in Amtrak's national network.

The report "is a sharp rebuke to recent budget proposals from the White House and members of Congress that would have negatively affected the local economies for 45 percent of American taxpayers," NARP officials said in a press release.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

Bloggers could help bring passenger train service to Coast

PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) - Two young women from New Jersey are on an Amtrak adventure; traveling America and writing stories for the National Association of Railroad Passengers. 

Coast leaders met with Caitlin Boyle and Victoria Principato in hopes that their experience will help sell the benefits of rail service in South Mississippi along an old route from Florida to California.

"There are a lot of different benefits to communities who have a train stop. We've seen a lot of economic development in cities and towns we've stopped in from the train. That's been very cool," said Victoria.

To read more, CLICK HERE.