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Two U.S. Senators are asking the federal government to set aside a $9 billion fund in order to install safety upgrades for the Amtrak railroad. Amtrak is a government funded railroad service that has recently come under intense scrutiny following a tragic train crash.
Funding for Amtrak Infrastructure Update
According to news reports, Senators Cory Booker and Roger Wicker are introducing a bill into legislation that would provide federal grant and loans priority to passenger rail operators who are currently working install the latest safety systems on tracks, including the section of railroad where the Amtrak 188 train derailed back in May of this year.
On May 12, an Amtrak train derailed off a Philadelphia track when the train was allegedly traveling along a curve at a speed two times greater than the 50 mile per hour posted speed limited. In the wake of the Amtrak train crash, 200 passengers were injured and eight were reportedly killed during the 188 train wreck.
A day after the now infamous Amtrak accident, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee met to discuss the possibility of cutting $252 million from Amtrak’s budget for 2015. This Amtrak budget cut was proposed in a bill, which was passed by the committee and is now ready for House floor consideration.
However, many lawmakers have criticized this bill, saying that cutting funds will prevent Amtrak from updating its railroad infrastructure, a necessity in order to ensure a train crash like Amtrak 188 does not occur again. That is why Wicker and Booker proposed their own legislation known as the Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act, which if passed will allot $1.65 billion per year over the next four years to go toward railroad safety improvements. An additional $570 million in grants would also be set aside for these infrastructure updates.
Railroad Improvements Needed Throughout U.S.
Senators Wicker and Booker note that these improvements are especially needed in Amtrak’s Northeastern corridors, which are heavily traveled by 200,000 passengers on a daily basis.
A bipartisan measure is needed in order to facilitate much needed improvements to the existing Amtrak railroad infrastructure, especially considering that “the nation’s passenger rail system serves as an integral part of our overall transportation structure and our economy,” according to Wicker.
Booker followed this up with pointing out:
“Too often our rail system falls short due to a lack of adequate infrastructure investment. Our bipartisan bill takes important steps to improve rail safety in the wake of last month’s tragic derailment, modernize our aging passenger rail network, and maximize investments in infrastructure through improved financing and grant programs.”
Amtrak is not the only rail line affected by new infrastructure legislation. Congress has also required all rail lines to have Positive Train Control systems installed before the end of 2015. Amtrak expects to have PTC installed on all their train lines in the Northeast Corridor by the deadline, though it seems that many other railroad services may miss this deadline due to cost.
Obtain a Free Amtrak Train Crash Lawsuit Evaluation
If you or a loved one were injured or killed during the May 12, 2015 Amtrak derailment, you may have a legal claim.
One thought on Gov’t May Fund Amtrak Infrastructure Update
They will probably do some projects but the government is gearing up for war with China.