Ranking Members Larsen, Payne, Jr. Statements from Hearing on Passenger Rail

Hearing

"Thank you, Chairman Nehls and Ranking Member Payne, for holding today's hearing on improving intercity passenger rail across the country.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was a monumental achievement that supercharged our nation's investment in rail. Congress supported $102 billion in planned funding for rail in the BIL.

The BIL boosted investment in transportation and infrastructure that are creating jobs and growing our economy.

For intercity passenger rail, the BIL guaranteed multi-year funding for state of good repair investments and corridor development.

It makes possible, for the first time ever, dedicated, reliable federal funding--dispersed over five years--to improve and expand intercity passenger rail.

The BIL is already investing in over 700 rail projects.

Earlier this year, the first round of competitive rail grants from BIL was announced.

Among the recipients was the City of Burlington, Washington, in my district, which was awarded a $2 million planning grant to identify which one of its 16 at-grade crossings is most suitable for grade separation, a critical investment that will help reduce congestion and improve safety.

Burlington Mayor Steve Sexton brought the idea of improving at-grade crossings in the city to me nearly a decade ago, and I am pleased to see the City is able to move forward with this project, thanks to BIL funding.

Earlier this month, the FRA announced funding for 25 projects along the Northeast Corridor totaling over $16.4 billion dollars. These investments include new bridges, tunnels, and track improvements over the busiest passenger rail route in the nation.

I expect great results for communities will come from this grant and the additional rail funding to come.

I look forward to the National Network funding and the Corridor Identification announcements expected by the end of this year. These grants will build on the investments states across the country have been making for years.

The States, Amtrak and the FRA can now enact long-term plans for passenger rail expansion and improvement, secure in the knowledge that the funding will be there in future years.

I'm looking forward to hearing from our witnesses today about the difference this budget certainty has made for them in developing and sustaining programs, and how this will ultimately improve service for rail passengers.

This funding is not only intended to improve existing rail service, but to expand it. Cities and counties across the nation want more frequent and more reliable passenger rail service, and increased access to the national network.

Local leaders know that this will help their communities grow and thrive and provide a cleaner and greener way to move people.

The communities that have rail service want better service. The communities that do not, want service to start.

The FRA's Corridor Identification Program received more than ninety applications, including two from the State of Washington, demonstrating the need for additional service.

This Committee is committed to helping communities get the regular and reliable passenger rail service that they want.

I will continue to push for Congress to fully fund its intercity passenger rail commitments to create more jobs, grow regional economies, reduce congestion and carbon emissions, and build a cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible transportation network.

The BIL is also an investment in our workforce. Federal rail funding will grow a well-trained, diverse workforce to build, operate and maintain a national intercity passenger rail network.

The transformational investment in the BIL is a great start, but Congress needs to build on this by ensuring reliable funding for intercity passenger rail in the future.

At a minimum, we need to ensure that rail service is not hurt by reckless cuts in appropriations negotiations.

Beyond that, highways, transit, airports and harbors all have access to dedicated funding streams, enabling them to fund their long-term major capital projects without being subject to the ups and downs of the annual appropriations process.

Providing steady funding for intercity passenger rail will allow states and communities the certainty they need to plan and deliver more and better rail service.

I look forward to hearing from witnesses today who will provide the Committee with useful perspectives on what it takes to run intercity passenger rail, the outstanding demand for passenger rail, and the benefits rail brings to communities nationwide."

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