OneRail Coalition Announces Executive Changes
On June 17, the OneRail Coalition Board of Directors announced executive changes to the organization. After leading the Coalition since it began in 2009, Anne Canby is stepping down as the organization’s Director. Canby has been instrumental in raising the profile of rail and its many benefits through a variety of activities, and her leadership brought together the major segments of the rail industry through OneRail. Deputy Director Devon Barnhart will take over as Director, and Liz Hill will be Deputy Director for the coalition. Read more about these changes here.
|
|
Federal Rail Policy Updates
 It has been a busy month for federal rail policy. On June 24, President Biden announced that he had struck a deal with a bipartisan group of Senators to invest $579 billion into roads, rail, water infrastructure, and broadband. Unlike either the House or the Senate have been able to do, this bipartisan deal has agreed to pay-fors. You can read more about the deal here, but below is a breakdown of the deal’s major pieces:
- $66 billion for passenger and freight rail projects
- $49 billion for public transit
- $109 billion for road, bridges, and major projects
- $16 billion for ports and waterways
- $55 billion for water infrastructure
- $25 billion for airports
- $65 billion for broadband infrastructure
- $49 billion for resilience projects to address climate change
Prior to this, on June 10 (after a 19-hour mark-up), the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee passed a $548 billion, 5-year surface infrastructure bill (INVEST Act). The INVEST Act includes over $80 billion for rail programs but passed mostly along party lines, with only two Republicans voting in support. The bill heads to the House floor this week.
On June 16, the Senate Commerce Committee followed with passage of their bi-partisan Surface Transportation Investment Act. The bill provides $78 billion over 5 years for multi-modal freight, rail, and motor carrier safety programs. Additionally, the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee marked-up the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 on May 26. The bill passed unanimously and provides funding for multimodal freight programs and the Section 130 grade crossing safety program.
On May 28, President Biden released his FY22 Budget and American Jobs Plan, which called for $547.5 billion over 5 years for surface transportation, including an historic $80 billion for passenger and freight rail programs.
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark-up the FY22 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill on Monday, July 12.
Funding Comparison
|
|
Other Things We Are Watching
 GOP infrastructure negotiators fume over Biden’s handling of their deal. The five GOP senators who cut a deal with moderate Democrats and the president are frustrated that Biden explicitly tied his signature on a bipartisan infrastructure bill to a separate Democrats-only measure. Read More
U.S. House Highway Bill to Reach Floor This Month. The bill’s consideration is likely to occur during the week of June 28. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had indicated the bill would pass the chamber prior to July 4. Read More
Senator Markey Applauds Commerce Committee Passage of His Rail and Safety Provisions in Surface Transportation Bill: On June 16th, 2021, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee approved the Surface Transportation Investment Act (STIA). There were several provisions included in this that addressed rail safety, including grade crossing safety. Read More
Ocasio-Cortez, Gillibrand and Moulton call for more high-speed rail funding in the infrastructure package: 23 lawmakers called for increased rail funding in the infrastructure package the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee recently approved before it reaches the House floor before July 4th. Read More
Amtrak kicks off $28 million project to upgrade long-distance ride: All Superliner coaches, sleeping cars, dining cars, and Sightseer lounges will be refreshed. “Viewliner I” sleeping cars in the East and Southeast corridors will also be similarly improved. Read More
|
|
|
Recent and Upcoming Webinars and Podcasts
Podcast: Commuter Rail Coalition - The Liability Insurance Crisis
June 11, 2021
Vice Chair Mike Noland (South Shore Line) and Director of Government Affairs John Cline (Cline Strategic Consulting) discuss how the decidedly unsexy issue of excess liability insurance has become an existential threat to commuter railroads with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. They also share the innovative solution in need of bi-partisan support as it’s being shopped on Capitol Hill.
FHWA-FRA Joint Webinar: Exploring Federal Funding Sources and Resources for Rail Programs
June 23, 2021, 2:00 PM EDT - 3:30 PM EDT
The next webinar in the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Joint Webinar Series is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23rd, 2021, from 2:00 to 3:30 ET. The topic will be on Exploring Federal Funding Sources and Resources for Rail Programs.
Restoring passenger confidence in rail: the power of demand management
July 7, 2021, 9:00 AM EDT
Over the past year rail passenger numbers have fallen significantly and remain low, even where COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted. Operators need to bring passengers back onboard, and the public need information to feel in control, safe and reassured. This session will debate how rail can reduce uncertainty and increase confidence in travel with digital solutions in stations, on platforms, in trains, and on mobile apps. Which carriages are busiest when? Where should people walk and stand? A live audience will hear from the International Union of Railways (UIC) Passenger Director and its COVID-19 Taskforce Chair, Marc Guigon, leading urban operators Madrid Metro and London Underground, and passenger flow experts Veovo.
|
|
|
About Us
OneRail is a diverse group of rail stakeholders who have come together to educate America about the benefits of a strong freight and passenger rail system.
Learn more about OneRail
Follow OneRail on Social Media
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
