Progressive Railroading
FRA awards millions in funds to restore Gulf Coast Amtrak service, construct Virginia rail bridge
Rail News: Federal Legislation & Regulation
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith (both R-Miss.), and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) yesterday announced millions in federal funds have been awarded for rail projects in their respective states.
In a press release, Wicker praised the award of $178.4 million from the Federal Railroad Administration to help fund restoration of Amtrak service along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Amtrak hasn't served the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina destroyed rail infrastructure there in 2005. The funding is being issued through the federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
"This is a significant milestone, representing years of dedicated efforts to reconnect our communities after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Restoring passenger rail service will create jobs, improve quality of life, and offer a convenient travel option for tourists, contributing to our region's economic growth and vitality," said Wicker, who has long advocated for the restoration of passenger-rail service along the coast.
Meanwhile, Hyde-Smith announced a $52 million CRISI grant to the Gloster Southern Railroad in Mississippi. The grant will fund a project to restore freight-rail service on a 35-mile segment of the Gloster Southern that was discontinued in 2009. The service will reconnect rural businesses in an historically disadvantaged region of Mississippi and Louisiana, Hyde-Smith said.
In Virginia, Warner and Kaine announced $100 million in federal funding has been granted to the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority for the design and construction of the Franconia-Springfield Bypass, a rail bridge that will alleviate congestion on one of busiest railways in Virginia. Once completed, the project will allow Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains to seamlessly cross over two freight rail tracks, preventing delays and expanding capacity for additional service, the senators said in a press release.
The Virginia funding is awarded through CRISI Program and made possible by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the FY2022 government spending bill.