Congressman Neguse Leads Appropriations Letter Urging Full Funding for IIJA Passenger Rail Programs
Passenger rail promotes mobility in communities, increases energy efficiency, and generates good-paying jobs.
Lafayette, CO — Last week, Congressman Joe Neguse led 10 of his colleagues in a letter to House Appropriators requesting full funding for the Federal Railroad Administration's passenger rail programs. In the letter, the lawmakers noted the historic $66 billion in new funding for rail made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and urged Congress to uphold the spending levels outlined in this bill to help advance the development of intercity passenger rail corridors across the country.
“Passenger rail has a storied, proud history in the United States. Yet, presently, American railways lag behind the rest of the developed world. From inadequate infrastructure to outdated technology, our railroads are in desperate need of funding. In recognition of this crisis, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) historically provided $66 billion in new funding for rail. But our work is not done, and as such, we urge you to uphold the historic promise of the IIJA by providing the full authorized funding for the following projects,” wrote the lawmakers.
The lawmakers added: “Passenger rail doesn’t simply reduce roadway congestion. It is a proud American tradition responsible for job creation, technological innovation, and connecting communities to one another. As our cities and towns continue to grow rapidly, it’s imperative that we continue to invest in passenger rail.”
Specifically, the letter requests that Congress provide full funding for the following Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)’s passenger rail programs:
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$1.5 billion for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grants Program in FY24 - Eligible projects under this grant include replacing, rehabilitating, or repairing infrastructure or assets for intercity passenger rail to ensure it is in a state of good repair. This program also covers the expansion of intercity passenger rail services, the establishment of new intercity passenger rail services, and more.
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$1 billion for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program in FY24 - This funding can be used for critical deployment of railroad safety technology, capital projects to address railway congestion, trespassing prevention, and more. This program also gives the Secretary of Transportation substantial bandwidth to address problems, including emergency planning and workforce training.
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$50 million for the Restoration and Enhancement Grant Program for FY24 - From FY18-FY20, this program funded $22.4 million in projects. The FRA uses these grants to add service lines, restore previously operated services, and more.
Read the full letter HERE.
The letter was signed by Seth Moulton (D-MA), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Colin Allred (D-TX), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Sean Casten (D-IL), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL).
Since first being elected to Congress, Rep. Neguse has fought to secure federal funding for a passenger rail project in his district. Rep. Neguse worked with local leaders and community members to successfully advocate for Colorado’s Front Range Passenger Rail Project to be included in the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the FRA’s Corridor Identification Development (Corridor ID) Plan, a program authorized by the IIJA to facilitate the development of intercity passenger rail corridors. The Front Range Passenger Rail Project would connect 13 of the most populous counties in Colorado, spanning roughly 200 miles – acting as a transportation ‘spine’ along the Front Range of Colorado.
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