U.S. SENATE PASSES HISTORIC BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SETTING UP GULF COAST PASSENGER RAIL RESTORATION

The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill today that includes investing an unprecedented $66 billion for the nation’s passenger rail programs, projects, and operations. The bill in total authorizes $1 trillion in new spending for roads, bridges, broadband, electric, water, and rail infrastructure. The unprecedented funding in passenger rail signifies a win for the Southern Rail Commission as numerous items in the bill align with the SRC’s strategic priorities.

“The Senate’s action today in passing this bill provides historic levels of funding for passenger rail that allow for unprecedented expansion and development,” said Knox Ross, Mississippi Commissioner for the SRC. “This bill’s passage coupled with the Surface Transportation Board’s decision last week to move forward with Gulf Coast passenger rail service brings the SRC one step closer to turning the commission’s aspirational goals for the South into a reality.”

A distinguishing component of the final infrastructure bill is the redefining of Amtrak’s mission to be one of a valuable service to the American people which should be invested in to serve the entire nation rather than selected portions of the country. Items directly impacting the SRC include:

• Provides billions in new annual funding for Amtrak operations and network upgrades.

• Allocates $1.5 billion per year for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants program with a 50 percent match required, which could be used for the proposed service between Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

• Allocates up to $1 million per year of federal matching funds for interstate rail compacts such as the SRC.

• Provides $15 million for the U.S. Department of Transportation to analyze the restoration of long-distance trains that have been terminated by Amtrak.

• Boosts funding levels for rail grant programs such as Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program ($1 billion per year), and the Restoration and Enhancement Program ($50 million per year).

• Makes the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program more financially useful to eligible entities.

• Allocates $500 million per year for rail grade-crossing removals.

• Allocates $1.5 billion a year for Local and Regional Project Assistance Program.

• Provides $50 million per year for ensuring train stations are ADA compliant.

• Changes to the composition of the Amtrak Board of Directors, designating one seat for a representative of the disability community, two seats for Northeastern Corridor service, two seats for long-distance service, and two seats for state-supported rail service representatives. In addition, the CEO of Amtrak can no longer serve in the role as President of the Board.

• Directs Amtrak's business goals to include "competitive fares, mail and express, make certain food served meets the needs of its customers, provide economic benefits to communities, support and maintain established long-distance routes."

• Creates a working group to recommend food changes that will address the dietary needs of long-distance passengers, provide local food and beverages on state supported trains, survey the passengers for input with a goal of increasing ridership.

• Directs the Surface Transportation Board to set up a passenger rail decision desk and staff with up to ten people with passenger rail expertise.

The SRC looks forward to seeing the bill debated in the House and anticipates ultimate passage by both chambers.

The SRC is currently working with local elected officials and leaders across the South, as well as with their federal delegation and Amtrak, to restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast and expand connection opportunities throughout the region.

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD DECISION SIGNALS PROGRESS FOR GULF COAST PASSENGER RAIL

 The Surface Transportation Board delivered a pivotal decision today which signals another step forward in returning passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast. The Southern Rail Commission issued this statement:

“This STB decision is incredibly gratifying, and the Southern Rail Commission is pleased that the STB refused CSX’s and Norfolk Southern’s effort to dismiss Amtrak’s petition for access to operate passenger rail between New Orleans and Mobile,” said Knox Ross, Mississippi SRC Commissioner. “We are especially pleased that STB found no need for an environmental review and set an aggressive hearing schedule to resolve this process within an expeditious timeframe that could meet Amtrak’s stated goal of starting passenger service in January 2022. Our communities are ready for the return daily rail service.”

On March 16, 2021, Amtrak filed a petition with the STB requiring that the freight railroads, CSX and Norfolk Southern, provide access on the line between New Orleans and Mobile to allow Amtrak to perform all necessary preparations for Gulf Coast Service to commence in January 2022. The freight railroad companies responded by filing a motion requesting that the STB dismiss Amtrak’s application.

Today, the STB denied that motion to dismiss Amtrak’s application, issued a decision that establishes a procedural schedule with a hearing set in December 2021, and appointed an administrative law judge to resolve all discovery disputes.

U.S. SENATE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL INCLUDES MULTIPLE WINS FOR SOUTHERN RAIL COMMISSION

The U.S. Senate finalized the bipartisan infrastructure bill over the weekend which includes $66 billion for rail programs, projects, and operations, representing an unprecedented investment in the nation’s passenger rail system. The Senate will begin debate today on the infrastructure bill that in total authorizes $1 trillion in new spending for roads, bridges, broadband, electric, water, and rail infrastructure. The bill also fundamentally redirects Amtrak's mission as defined by Congress from one of "achieving a performance level to justify expending public money" to meeting the urban and rural passenger rail needs across the entire United States.

The bill contains numerous items related to passenger rail that wholly align with the Southern Rail Commission’s strategic priorities:

• Provides billions in new annual funding for Amtrak operations and network upgrades.

• Allocates $1.5 billion per year for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants program with a 50 percent match required, which could be used for the proposed service between Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

• Allocates up to $1 million per year of federal matching funds for interstate rail compacts such as the SRC.

• Provides $15 million for the U.S. Department of Transportation to analyze the restoration of long-distance trains that have been terminated by Amtrak.

• Boosts funding levels for rail grant programs such as Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program ($1 billion per year), and the Restoration and Enhancement Program ($50 million per year).

• Makes the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Program more financially useful to eligible entities.

• Allocates $500 million per year for rail grade-crossing removals.

• Allocates $1.5 billion a year for Local and Regional Project Assistance Program.

• Provides $50 million per year for ensuring train stations are ADA compliant.

• Changes to the composition of the Amtrak Board of Directors, designating one seat for a representative of the disability community, two seats for Northeastern Corridor service, two seats for long-distance service, and two seats for state-supported rail service representatives. In addition, the CEO of Amtrak can no longer serve in the role as President of the Board.

• Directs Amtrak's business goals to include "competitive fares, mail and express, make certain food served meets the needs of its customers, provide economic benefits to communities, support and maintain established long-distance routes."

• Creates a working group to recommend food changes that will address the dietary needs of long-distance passengers, provide local food and beverages on state supported trains, survey the passengers for input with a goal of increasing ridership.

• Directs the Surface Transportation Board to set up a passenger rail decision desk and staff with up to ten people with passenger rail expertise.

“This bill is a defining moment in the history of the Southern Rail Commission’s work, and we thank our congressional leaders whose support of this bill will deliver monumental direct benefits to our Gulf Coast region,” said Mississippi Commissioner, Knox Ross. “New funding will not only support and expand the ongoing work of our commission but will also allow for new passenger rail projects and create sustainable opportunities for growth, connectivity, and economic development along the Gulf Coast and throughout the region.”   

The SRC is currently working with local elected officials and leaders across the South, as well as with its federal delegation and Amtrak, to restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast and expand connection opportunities throughout the region.

FRA BACKS FORMATION OF INTERSTATE RAIL COMPACTS USING SOUTHERN RAIL COMMISSION AS MODEL

Federal Rail Administration Deputy Administrator Amit Bose expressed full support for the formation of interstate rail compacts throughout the country, pointing to the Southern Rail Commission as a model organization at the SRC’s quarterly meeting today.

“The Federal Railroad Administration believes that interstate compacts, recognizing Southern Rail Commission as a great example, deliver results and hold tremendous promise in advancing intercity passenger rail development,” Bose said. “We know the important role in states coming together, like the Southern Rail Commission.”

The FRA’s support for commissions like the SRC follows the U.S. House of Representative’s passing of the Interstate Rail Compacts Advancement Act, which will authorize up to 10 multistate passenger rail commissions and provide states with matching operating funds of up to $500,000 annually. The newly formed commissions would be modeled after the SRC’s demonstrated best practices and through the organization’s lessons learned.

Bose added that a strong and ongoing relationship between the FRA and SRC is critical for promoting economic growth in the region stemming from passenger rail expansion. He also spoke to the importance of matching federal dollars for local rail efforts, acknowledging that local resources for funding are not limitless. Matched federal funding would double the SRC’s annual operating budget.

“As an administration, it’s important to show that there is a federal rail program in place that is not just short term, but will be available long term,” Bose said. “We want to make sure there is consistent and dedicated funding available at the federal level that shows partnership and allows for groups at the local level to make their own decisions.”

Additionally, Bose welcomed the SRC’s suggestion for a national convention of all multistate rail compacts as a way to come together, engage and share best practices with one another for continued development and effective operations.

Amtrak representative Todd Stennis shared the FRA’s support for passenger rail development in the southern region by announcing the FRA’s approval for Amtrak’s funding of infrastructure improvements to rail platforms along the Gulf Coast. This is an important investment in these communities, saving cities hundreds of thousands of dollars and preparing the Gulf Coast region for resumed passenger rail service.

Bose, who was able to ride the first inspection train in 2016, concluded his remarks with, “I am so looking forward to riding the train again, for real this time, thanks to all the work done by this commission.”

AMTRAK FILING PETITION WITH SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO EXPEDITE GULF COAST SERVICE

The Southern Rail Commission released the following statement today in response to Amtrak’s announcement that it will be filing a petition with the Surface Transportation Board:

“We lost passenger rail service along the gulf coast fifteen years ago when Hurricane Katrina damaged the rails and while those tracks have been repaired, passenger rail did not restart. Congress directed the FRA to lead an analysis to determine everything it would take to return service, and the SRC worked with the FRA to deliver that report in 2017 which identified $66 million in infrastructure needs. We have that funding now secured and we are ready to move forward,” said Knox Ross, Mississippi SRC Commissioner. “Our local communities are frustrated by all the years of studying and waiting, and we are hoping this public and transparent process will resolve all outstanding issues so that service can begin soon.”

The STB is a federal independent board established by Congress with regulatory oversight over rail systems and their business relationships to protect the interest of all users of surface transportation networks and to resolve disputes when they cannot be resolved by other means. Amtrak has the right of access to operate passenger service along the gulf coast corridor and has requested that the STB expedite their application to support their intent to start service between Mobile and New Orleans in January 2022. The STB will make a determination whether they will hold a hearing or find another way to reach a resolution.

Congress created the Gulf Coast Working Group in the 2015 federal transportation reauthorization called FAST Act to perform an exhaustive study on restoring the service, which was a process administered by the FRA. The GCWG report was completed in July 2017 identifying FRA’s priority infrastructure projects along the gulf coast. In June 2019, SRC was awarded a $33 million federal grant through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program to complete major infrastructure and capital improvements necessary for expanded freight capacity and service restoration. These federal grants also leverage matching commitments from the States of Louisiana and Mississippi for a total of $66 million in funding available to allow Amtrak to move ahead with launching daily passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile.

AMTRAK TO COMPLETE PLATFORM REPAIRS ON GULF COAST STATIONS

Today, Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President of Stations and Accessibility, made the following remarks at the quarterly meeting of the Southern Rail Commission:

“Amtrak recently dispatched a full team to assess the remaining work underway on stations along the Mobile to New Orleans route to ensure they are ready for passenger rail service to start in 2022,” said Dr. David Handera. “Amtrak will work with the cities on a phased approach to initially modify the existing platforms and complete all needed repairs in the path of travel. Amtrak’s intent is to pay for these repairs, subject to FRA approval, and also to invest in constructing new accessible, well-lit, ADA complaint platforms in phase two. We are working with FRA on assembling funding sources for short-term and long-term repairs, and will work collaboratively with the cities to redirect current grant funds towards other station upgrades that improve the path of travel to the station, such as accessible parking, lighting, and other depot amenities.”

With funding secured for the first three years of operations for the New Orleans to Mobile service, Amtrak recently announced they intend to start service in January 2022. The SRC has secured over $66 million in federal grants and local matching funds for improvements to railroad infrastructure that will benefit passenger and freight service along the route. The SRC awarded grants to Mobile, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis for planning and improvements to rail stations along the Mobile to New Orleans route. Under Amtrak’s new commitment, Amtrak would repair existing platforms in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Mobile in phase one and install new platforms in phase two. In Pascagoula, Amtrak would bring in a temporary platform in phase one and install a new platform in phase two.

In Mobile, the city plans to locate the rail station at the new Mobile airport at Brookley Field, but is awaiting the final results of an alternatives analysis before determining the final station location. Amtrak officials stated, “We cannot commit to investment in additional locations today in Mobile, but will work closely with Mobile officials on their plans which would follow Amtrak’s normal course of planning for new station development.” 

The Southern Rail Commission recently issued a Notice of Funding Availability soliciting applications from communities within Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama for station improvements. Responses are due today at 5 p.m.