Biden advocates expanded passenger rail in speech celebrating Amtrak
In remarks celebrating 50 years of service by Amtrak, President Biden has argued that expanding and investing in the country’s passenger rail system would help the economy by creating jobs and benefit the environment by cutting down on fossil fuel emissions from commuters. Mr. Biden’s remarks came as he continues to promote his multi-trillion dollar legislative agenda. His infrastructure and jobs proposal, the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan, would include $80 billion dedicated specifically to Amtrak.[cbsnews.com]
Amtrak asks Congress to budget $5.4 billion for 2022
Amtrak has asked Congress for $5.4 billion in the budget year starting Oct. 1 as it still grapples with the impact of COVID-19. The passenger rail service asked for $3.88 billion for “base needs” and $1.55 billion in additional funding needed to address Northeast Corridor infrastructure projects and begin advancing new corridor routes across the country. Amtrak, which received about $2 billion from Congress in the year before the pandemic, has been awarded $3.7 billion in emergency funding since March 2020. [reuters.com]
Colorado commission votes to recommend Front Range route
The Colorado commission working on a Front Range passenger railway has voted to recommend a route that includes a shared corridor northwest from Denver. The vote also signed off on a proposed coordination agreement with the Regional Transportation District (RTD) and the Colorado Department of Transportation. The RTD’s board is expected to vote on the agreement in June. Both the larger Front Range regional rail plan and the RTD’s B-Line commuter rail extension to Boulder County are years from happening. [apnews.com]
Enhanced rail could add thousands of jobs to Hartford and Springfield
A recent study say reviving the former Inland route between New York and Boston by way of Hartford, Springfield and Worcester would promote tens of billions of dollars in economic activity in the region. Commuter rail advocates say improvements to the Hartford Line and implementation of the East-West Rail project in Massachusetts could bring tens of thousands of jobs to the Hartford-Springfield region. [courant.com]
Proposed commuter rail would connect NC’s Research Triangle
A transportation partnership in North Carolina’s Research Triangle has proposed a new commuter rail service. According to GoForwardNC, the commuter rail line would connect Triangle areas from Durham to Garner or Clayton. Officials estimate that the line would carry 7,500 to 10,000 passengers a day by 2030. The service as proposed would require building new stations among stations that already exist in the Raleigh, Durham, and Cary downtown areas. Additional station locations would be be determined. A new phase of study is set to follow. [cbs17.com]
