FRA Administrator Boardman: Intercity Rail Service Proposals to Compete for Federal Funding

Intercity passenger rail is an integral part of our nation’s transportation network, and with that in mind, the department established a new $30 million grant program aimed at improving such services around the nation.  Twenty-five forward-thinking proposals from twenty two-states will compete for funding under the new program.

The proposals are designed to improve the reliability of intercity passenger rail, relieve highway congestion, and increase capacity.  Some examples of proposed projects include installing advanced signaling systems to increase track speeds, reconfiguring track junctions to enhance operational efficiency, and constructing additional main line track to keep trains moving.  Most of the grant applications seek to improve existing passenger rail routes while a few involve planning activities for the creation of an entirely new service. 

The Department will review the proposals and determine final grant awards in September.  The plans will be evaluated based on several criteria, including inclusion of intercity passenger rail in state plans to address congestion and a project’s ability to reduce travel times, increase service frequency, or enhance service quality. 

And, since some projects also will benefit the operations of private freight railroads on whose tracks passenger trains primarily run, a commitment by the host railroad to improve on-time performance will be a major consideration in evaluating proposals.

I believe states should play a more prominent role in determining where and how intercity passenger rail operates.   Between 1996 and 2006, ridership on state-supported intercity rail routes grew by 88 percent, far more than the 17 percent increase on all other routes combined.  The new grants will help augment state efforts, and bring needed resources to critical projects.

For more information, click here. 

-Administrator Boardman

Comments

[Judith Burki-Cohen]

Hooray! As a frequent traveler in Europe who feels liberated using its public transportation system exclusively with vastly increased convenience over a car, I am thrilled. But only 30 million dollars? That seems a drop in the bucket without any chance to make a real difference.

[Charles Lambert]

About time to consider rail travel, but wish the grant funds appropriated were much larger than the $30 million available.We need to consider expensive right-of-way acquisition, too. Rail needs to be expanded; we have existing insrastructure to build on without re-inventing anyrthing. Good for USDOT!

[Nick C]

I used intercity rail for the first time last month, on a trip from Portland to Seattle. What a treat! Comfortable seats, great view, lots of plugs for laptops, reasonable (and good) concessions.

If it weren't so darn hard to get around *in* Seattle once I get there, I'd use Amtrak Cascades more often. And if the trip were to get below 3 hours each way, I'd probably be able to overlook Seattle's lack of transit.

[Faramond]

This is great news, but who is to say that the program and money will have any effect? E.G., congested, dense, Connecticut has had plans to run commuter rail from New Haven to Hartford and Springfield, but now it turns out that the EPA wants a full review--for a project that involves little more than replacing track that was removed in the 1980s from a right of way that has been in use for well over a century. This decision will delay the project by years and cost millions of dollars.

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-plcrepass0720.artjul20,0,7174816.story

[Matt]

A good start - and if the next round with $100 million for state capital matching grants makes it through, even better - but still too little.

We have to recognize that rail has a huge potential in this country (as one of the greenest modes, but also as a great alternative for commuter driving and short flights, not to mention freight...); it's just a shame that the industry is so capital intensive (around 18% of Class 1 profit gets reinvested in capital, I believe), but there's no government committment even remotely close to what we pay for the other modes.

Way to get the ball rolling - now its time to make the ball big enough to make a difference.

[Anton Hagen]

Hooray! As a frequent traveler in Europe who feels liberated using its public transportation system exclusively with vastly increased convenience over a car, I am thrilled. But only 30 million dollars? That seems a drop in the bucket without any chance to make a real difference.