Legislation – Page 17 – Railfanning.org

Federal Budget: High-Speed Rail to Receive $5B

February 26, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — High-speed trains stand to receive $5 billion under President Obama’s spending plan. “This commitment will be essential as we develop surface transportation authorization legislation this year,” said James Oberstar, D-Minn. “This new authorization will require significant investments to help reduce congestion, eliminate freight chokepoints, mitigate the impacts of our surface transportation system on the environment, reduce roadway fatalities, enhance our mobility and safety through innovation and technology, and provide modal choice for all users. “I applaud the administration’s willingness to work with Congress to transform surface transportation programs to emphasize performance measurement, and put these programs on a

Brown: Congestion a Major Problem for Railroads

February 20, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Congestion is a major problem across all modes of surface transportation, said Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla. “And as we begin to develop and reauthorize the next surface transportation bill, it is critical that the need for additional rail capacity for both freight and passenger rail be addressed,” Brown said. “The future of ground transportation is on our rails, whether it is taking freight off congested highways or moving people on high-speed rail corridors. “There is no one solution that will solve the congestion problems plaguing our nation,” Brown added. “New and creative ideas from both government and the

Oberstar: ‘Recovery’ Bill Will Benefit Rail Industry

February 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The so-called “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009″ will help with rail infrastructure and help put Americans back to work, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn, said. “This bill is urgently needed to put Americans back to work,” Oberstar said. “The infrastructure investments funded by this bill will create good, family-wage jobs — jobs that cannot be outsourced to another country, because the work must be done here in the U.S. on our roads, bridges, transit and rail systems, airports, waterways, wastewater treatment facilities, and Federal buildings. “

Oberstar, Brown Urge ‘Full Funding’ of HMEP

February 13, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — T&I Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minn., and Rail Subcommittee Chairwoman Corrine Brown, D-Fla., wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to urge “full funding” of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant program at the $28.8 million authorization level.Among other things, the HMEP grant program helps governments develop and implement emergency plans and train fire fighters and other emergency personnel to respond to accidents and incidents involving hazardous materials. It has been projected that there will be a funding shortfall of $9.3 million in 2009. As a result, hundreds of thousands of emergency response personnel will not receive adequate

LA-Vegas Line Could Receive Billions

February 12, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — A Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas high-speed could receive $8 billion in federal funding. The funding for the line was included in the massive “stimulus” bill Congress is considering.

STB Announces Speakers Lineup

February 6, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — The Surface Transportation Board provided a schedule of speakers’ appearances and their time allocations for the Board’s Feb. 11 public hearing on the Board’s new responsibilities under the recently passed Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. The Act enhances the Board’s role with regard to Amtrak and its relationships with commuter rail operators, host railroads, states and the public.

Mica: 80 and Counting Respond to Call for U.S. High-Speed Rail

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Eighty companies and state departments of transportation have responded to the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) request for expressions of interest to develop high-speed rail corridors, according to U.S. Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla. “This overwhelming response is remarkable given the current state of the economy,” said Mica, the Republican Leader of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Last year, he led the effort to open high-speed rail development to private sector participation in 11 federally designated corridors in the United States. The measure including this initiative was signed into law in October. As required by the Mica initiative,

Biden: Bailout Bill Will Create Jobs

February 5, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

LAUREL, Md. — After touring the local MARC Train Station, Vice President Joe Biden said that 400,000 jobs will be created over the next two years nationwide if Congress approves a massive pork-filled “bailout” bill. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan includes the largest investment increase — at least $100 billion – in our nation’s infrastructure, including roads, bridges and mass transit systems, since the creation of the national highway system in the 1950s. The House has approved the bill, but the Senate is currently debating the bill. Should the Senate approve the bill, it will likely head back to

Mass Transit Could See More Bailout Money

February 3, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed an amendment to the Congress’ bailout bill they say directs $25 billion to “immediately support” nearly 700,000 American jobs through highway, mass transit and water infrastructure investments. “Construction projects across the country have been put on hold because states simply don’t have the money to move forward. It’s time to stop hitting snooze on modernizing our communities and wake up to the fact that construction projects get Americans working today,” Murray said. “This amendment invests in tried and true projects that get laid-off workers back on the job and

Looking for a bailout: Amtrak stands to receive $1 billion

January 31, 2009 Railfanning.org News Wire

WASHINGTON — As part of Congress’ bailout bill, Amtrak could receive $1 billion. The bill is still in the discussion phase. Opponents point to the fact that Amtrak hasn’t made a profit since its inception 35 years ago.