Legislator’s bill would support multi-state passenger rail efforts
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) has introduced legislation to create multi-state passenger rail commissions to improve regional coordination for passenger rail service. The Intercity Rail Commission Act would encourage the formation of up to 10 reginal passenger commissions by providing up to $500,000 in matching funds to each. The commissions would develop new passenger service or advance existing service, promote passenger rail service, and provide technical assistance to communities to plan for passenger service. “Most intercity passenger rail serves a multi-state region, with passengers regularly traveling across state lines,” Cohen said in a press release. “However, regional collaboration to support passenger rail service is only as effective as coordination between governors, state departments of transportation, and other relevant state and local officials and entities. By incentivizing states to create multi-state rail commissions, we can improve regional collaboration to support passenger rail service.”
FRA asks railroads if they can help offset shutdown of fuel pipeline
The Federal Railroad Administration is canvassing railroads to determine their ability to transport fuel inland from ports as part of an effort across all modes of transportation to offset the impact of disruption of the Colonial Pipeline, a 5,500-mile fuel pipeline between Texas and the Northeast which has been largely shut down by a ransomware attack. A Department of Transportation press release says the FRA is also asking if there are steps it can take to help railroads to increase capacity to move fuel, and to identify trends indicating capacity pressures. It is just one facet of a series of measures that also includes actions by the Maritime Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (which has issued a temporary exemption to hours-of-service laws for drivers transporting fuel), Federal Highways Administration (which has issued weight waivers for trucks), and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Short line association president asks Congress to avoid crew size legislation
American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker, in Tuesday testimony before Congress, asked legislators to avoid a crew-size mandate and maintain current truck size and weight limits as part of any transportation and infrastructure bill. Appearing before the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee’s Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, Baker included those two requests among four moves he said could help short lines meet the nation’s economic and environmental goals. He also voiced support for continued federal grant programs with short line eligibility, including the Consolidated Rail Infrastrucgture and Safety Improvements and Infrastructure for Rebuilding America programs, and support for current legislation including the Cantwell-Blunt Grade Crossig Elimination Act [see “Digest: Senators introduce bill to provide $2.5 billion for grade-crossing improvements,” Trains News Wire, April 30, 2021] and the RRIF reform bill [see “Digest: Endangered-species listings …,” News Wire, March 1, 2021].
