Legislation
Legislation
Commuter Rail
State Rail Coalition Asks Congress to Provide Strong Support for Passenger Rail in 2011
FTA
Commuter Rail
Legislation
National Gateway Receives Federal Stimulus Funds through TIGER Program
WASHINGTON — The National Gateway has been awarded $98 million in funding from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant program, part of the so-called American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The federal funds invested in this project will immediately be put to work alongside state and private funds to drive direct and long-lasting benefits in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina — as well as the rest of the nation, officials said. “This grant is a validation of the benefits of freight rail and the prominent role that railroads play in growing our economy and
Commuter Rail
Amtrak
Provision Would Let Amtrak Passengers Carry Guns in Checked Baggage
Passengers could soon bring firearms in their packed luggage on Amtrak trains under a provision included in the Senate’s massive year-end spending bill. “This is an important victory for sportsmen and gun owners across the country, and it affirms congressional support of the Second Amendment,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a news release. “Airline passengers in our country are allowed to transport firearms in secure, checked baggage when declared during the check-in process. Law-abiding gun owners who choose to travel on America’s taxpayer-subsidized rail line should be given the same right.” The rule is the same as one
Commuter Rail
Wamp: DOT Awards $14.2M for High-Speed Magnetic Levitation
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award $14.2 million to accelerate an environmental impact statement for a high-speed magnetic levitation, or maglev, train between Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville. The majority of the grant will be used for the studies required in the National Environmental Policy Act identifying the corridor routes and the station locations for this proposed project. “This funding is a game changer for the prospect of high-speed rail in the southeast and dramatically increases our chances of success in the years ahead. A high-speed rail connection between Atlanta, Chattanooga