Senate committee advances bill with major funding for Amtrak, rail infrastructure programs

WASHINGTON — The Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday approved a transportation bill providing $78 million over five years to fund projects including significant rail components, drawing praise from two major freight rail organizations.

The Washington Post reports the Surface Transportation Investment Act — the product of efforts led by committee chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and leading Republican member Roger Wicker of Mississippi — includes $25 billion for Amtrak and $28 billion for transportation construction grants. As presented to the committee, the bill includes $2 billion a year for a new program for major projects of national significance; $1.5 billion a year for RAISE (Rebuilding America Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity), the program known under previous administrations as TIGER and BUILD; and $1.2 billion for INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grants, a freight-focused program. The committee approved the bill by a 25-3 vote.

The bill also includes $7.5 billion for rail-related safety projects and increases funding for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants.

“Railroads applaud the committee for its leadership and bipartisan commitment to strengthening our nation’s infrastructure,” AAR CEO Ian Jefferies said in a press release. “By staying focused on vital funding needs and safety, the committee was able to build consensus on a package that makes a solid down payment on our future surface transportation needs.

Americaan Short Line and Regional Railroad President Chuck Baker commended the “strongly bipartisan approval” of the bill by the committee and said in a press release that for short lines, it specifically “provides excellent competitive funding opportunities and avoids unnecessarily burdensome regulations that would limit our ability to help grow the economy and protect the environment in every part of America.”

The Post reports that Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) sought to propose a goal that Amtrak become financially self-sustaining. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana) responded that while improved Amtrak service could lead to “a lot of economic growth and opportunity … without subsidies, it’s done.”