WASHINGTON — Metra will receive $100 million to purchase 50 new multilevel commuter rail cars, the Federal Transit Administration announced today, part of almost $631 million in federal funding awarded through the FTA’s Rail Vehicle Replacement Program.
Other awards — to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and the Maryland Transit Administration — had previously been announced by members of local congressional delegations [see “SEPTA receives $317 million grant …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 17, 2024, and “Maryland to receive $213 million grant …,” News Wire, Feb. 21, 2024].
Metra placed an order for 200 new multilevel cars from Alstom in January 2021, along with an option for up to 300 additional cars [see “Metra board approves order …,” News Wire, Jan. 1, 2021]. This funding, along with $100 in local matching funds, will allow Metra to exercise part of the option.
Much of the current 840-car Metra bilevel fleet is more than 40 years old.
“Newer, better railcars will mean a safer, more reliable, more accessible transportation future for the people of these communities,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said in a press release, referring to all three awards. “These cars also represent hundreds of jobs in American factories, building the next generation of American transit. We are proud to select these projects to improve passenger rail service for riders across the nation.”
— Updated at 1:25 p.m. CT to clarify that funding will allow Metra to exercise part of its option.
Don’t forget at the gas pump where the biggest subsidies exist!
I don’t know if anyone will read comments this deep into the Newswire, as comments were down for a number of days. Here’s my comment: To me it’s important that the public (transit riders or not) know the FULL accounting of subsidies to transit. METRA has operating subsidies, capital subsidies (as in this article), and the benefit of Chicago CREATE. Add those together, it’s a whole lot of juice that the rider doesn’t pay.
I’m NOT opposed to these subsidies. It’s that I believe it needs to be disclosed. Ditto Amtrak, where the operating subsidy will be a small amount compared to the capital costs of the various tunnels and bridges under way or proposed for NEC. LIRR and NYCTA riders benefit from the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access projects at substantial cost in billions, not paid for by ticket purchase.
The same should disclosed to the traveling public when they purchase their airline and bus tickets.
As EV owners found out this week when renewing their plates in Tennessee, $100 more for hybrids and $200 more annually for EV’s to renew their plates. The EV owners are enraged in the fact they found out just how much they were avoiding in road taxes. Now they know, and they aren’t happy.
Are you expecting the same kind of indignation Mr. Landey?
As for Metra, they get 2 major subsidies. A Chicago area RTA sales tax that props up the farebox and pays for operations. And Capex support from either the State of Illinois or from the Feds to replace equipment and keep the ROW up to snuff. While CREATE does help Metra, the financial benefit is overwhelmingly in favor of the freight railroads.
I would say they have used their bi-level equipment pretty well. Those 40 year bi-levels range from the stainless steel Budds, the potpourri of Amerail and Nippon Sharyo models. All of the old 60+ year old steel Pullmans were brokered off years ago and are either rusting away on some forlorn siding or in use with another agency.
Or, Mr. Rice, at museums. There are retired Metra bilevels at the South Carolina Railroad Museum.
Mr. Landey, I on the other hand, oppose the FEDERAL subsidies. Why should taxpayers in Montana, South Carolina, Wyoming, etc., have to see their tax dollars buy something that will have zero impact upon them? The US government is supposed to be here for the general welfare, not targeted constituencies.
Mr. Baird, how do you know where the subsidy came from? Each state has a inflow and outflow of tax revenue. In fact the benefactor of this outlay (Illinois) gives over $5.88 more in federal revenue then it gets back from Congress and is in the top 5. (Minnesota is the largest at $6.88 given for every dollar recv’d).
New Mexico is at the other end of the spectrum, only providing .85 of revenue for every dollar in return. West Virginia & Montana is right behind along with Mississippi.
So which constituency would you say is getting the most of the federal largesse?