WASHINGTON — The Federal Railroad Administration announced Monday the availability of $5.8 million in funding to help states develop agreements for intercity passenger rail service.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is for the Interstate Rail Compact Program. It helps provide funds and technical assistance for improvement, promotion, or development of multi-state or regional rail operations.
FRA Administration Amit Bose said in a press release that the program “provides yet another opportunity to deliver the 21st century rail network Americans need and deserve. The Interstate Rail Compacts Program will facilitate multi-state partnerships to bring world-class passenger rail to more communities while supporting the long-term growth of America’s rail network.”
Grants through the program can be used to help pay for administering Interstate Rail Compacts, the agreements between states; address planning, including studies of impacts on freight operations and ridership; preparation of applications for federal grants; coordination of operations; and promotion of passenger rail operations.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity is available here. Applications are due July 10.
So we here have Federal Categorical Grant Program No. 099,999,999. Funding state transportation departments to do their job. The states have no money. The federals have even less money but they do have the unconstitutional authority to conjure up trillions of dollars out of the vapors from The Swamp, causing massive inflation.
When I studied at U-Michigan many decades ago, the students and the professors celebrated the increasing power of the federal government over the states, authority bought by the handing out of grants from the ferderal largesse in direct violation of the Tenth Amendment. I went in the opposite direction. I came to loathe the federal government, a disgust at its corruption (both parties) that has increased with each passing decade. I can only hope that at last other people are coming to see it my way. It’s gotten pretty plain to see.
Insightful and well said, Mr. Landey. Who is John Galt?
If the federal government goes into default (maybe as early as June 1) all these federal grants to the states will simply vaporize. As they should.