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High-Speed Debate Continues in Congress
High-Speed Debate Continues in Congress Written by David Peter Alan, Contributing Editor
The long-simmering controversy over high-speed rail (HSR) continued during a May 6 hearing before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials. Its theme: “When Unlimited Potential Meets Limited Resources: The Benefits and Challenges of High-Speed Rail and Emerging Rail Technologies.”
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.)
Subcommittee Chair Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.) kicked off the event, which ran for nearly 4-1/2 hours. “Thanks to the bold vision of President Biden, we stand at the crossroads of a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the nation’s passenger-rail network and bring it into the 21st century,” he said. “Imagine being able to hop on a train in Newark at 9 a.m. and make it to Washington in time for today’s hearing at 11 a.m. High-speed rail could b
Amtrak Spells it All Out for Congress
Amtrak Spells it All Out for Congress Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Amtrak has submitted its FY22 General and Legislative Annual Report and Five-Year Plan to Congress and the USDOT. The FY22 Grant Request proposes $3.88 billion for base needs and funding to offset the pandemic’s impacts on Amtrak and its state and commuter partners. In addition, Amtrak has identified $1.55 billion in additional investment necessary to fund what Amtrak calls its “bold reauthorization proposal to improve Northeast Corridor infrastructure and begin advancing new corridor routes across the nation.”
Following are selected reauthorization request highlights and other items from Amtrak’s
Image (C) Architect of the Capitol
A piece of legislation crucial to the inland waterways industry looks set for passage. The Water Resources Development Act of 2020 (WRDA) has been included as part of the year-end omnibus and COVID relief legislative package that is now awaiting the president’s signature.
According to Waterways Council Inc (WCI), the package included its top priority to adjust the cost-share for construction and major rehabilitation of inland waterways projects from 50% Inland Waterways Trust Fund (IWTF)/50% General Revenues to 35% IWTF/65% General Revenues for Fiscal Year2021 through FY 2031. Projects whose construction starts between FY2021-FY2031 will operate under the adjusted 35%/65% cost-share for the duration.