The future of Amtrak’s petition to operate passenger rail service between Mobile and New Orleans along the Gulf Coast will be debated this week during public hearings that started today hosted by the United States Surface Transportation Board. The STB, an independent federal agency, is charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation, primarily freight rail. The STB heard testimony from members of the Southern Rail Commission, elected officials from the Gulf Coast and from other areas, rail associations, and representatives from CSX and Norfolk Southern regarding Amtrak’s petition to operate Gulf Coast passenger service.
Several members and former members of the Southern Rail Commission testified in support of the passenger rail project during the two days of testimonies, which are summarized below.
Greg White, Former Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission
Mr. White stressed the 17-year stretch since this project first began and his involvement in the FRA Working Group process, working with officials from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and CSX Transportation, a Class I freight railroad system operating in the proposed project area. He mentioned, after years of negotiations to ensure the passenger route would not enter or interfere with the Port of Mobile’s rail yard, new representatives from CSX, stated they would require at $2.3 billion dollar price tag and walked away from further negotiations.
Mr. White noted, “We cannot allow unsupported, unreasonable demands by CSX to overturn long-established law and veto passenger rail that is supported by the people and by leadership of the coastal south!”
Knox Ross, Current Chairman of the SRC, representing the State of Mississippi
Also involved since the inception of the Gulf Coast Working Group, Mr. Ross has firsthand knowledge of the process, conversations and positions by all parties involved in the project. He detailed efforts, since the beginning of the project, to understand the SRC must protect the interests of the traveling public, and the freight shipper as both are integral to the economic success of the region. He stated the SRC has demonstrated a willingness to compromise, negotiate, and find solutions to the issues that are presented by this service, despite those efforts not being returned.
Mr. Ross said, “It has now been 17 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated our Gulf Coast and took passenger rail service with it. The SRC has been leading the charge to bring passenger rail back at the behests of our local, state, and federal elected officials and business community for the better part of 10 years. Each of our cities has invested millions of dollars in infrastructure to not only rebuild but improve their downtowns and beachfront areas to create a more attractive, resilient future for our coast. All of these improvements are centered on a common conveyance to move citizens, visitors, and workers between our coastal communities. The passenger train, our coast is built for it.”
John Spain, Vice-Chair of the Southern Rail Commission
Mr. Spain discussed his involvement in the project since its inception during the Gulf Coast Working Group and stressed the essence of time in that the Gulf Coast has waited long enough for passenger rail service. He noted not only will the rail line provide a significant economic impact to the region but it will also serve as a vital evacuation route during frequent storms experienced in coastal communities.
Spain said, "Restoring passenger rail in our region will bring major economic dollars to New Orleans, and the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coasts. Not only will passenger rail provide a business and tourist connection, it will also allow for a life safety issue of evacuation relief which is critically important to these regions. Our region continues to get hit by major storms which pose major safety risks for our communities along the coast who cannot evacuate in time. Part of the planning commissions efforts is to recognize that passenger service can provide evacuation to bring out people out of harm’s way."
Senator Roger Wicker, Mississippi
Sen. Wicker of Mississippi mentioned, for residents in his state who lost passenger rail as a transportation option during Hurricane Katrina, this pending decision by the STB is not an abstract policy question, it’s about continuing the recovery that started so long ago.
Sen. Wicker mentioned, “I believe the law favors this petition, but regardless of the law, the bipartisan infrastructure bill contains historic levels of funding to benefit both freight and passenger services and operations.”
Amit Bose, Federal Railroad Administrator
Mr. Bose spoke about the impact to the American public when passenger rail services are delayed or unavailable and stressed that for Gulf Coast residents – service is all but denied.
He expressed that the STB’s decision will have far reaching implications beyond the Gulf Coast, as it is pivotal for passenger rail expansion throughout the country. The federal infrastructure bill reaffirms the importance of passenger rail in connecting communities and the need to expand across the U.S. The expansive vision in the bill rests largely on ability to introduce passenger rail service to operate on the freight host railroad tracks. In this case, the host railroads have not met their burden of demonstrating that passenger rail would unreasonably impair their operations.
Bose said, “The public has a right to know what improvements are needed, how much they cost, and what other options were considered. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the FRA are committed to assisting all parties involved to make the requested passenger service a reality.”
John Robert Smith, Chairman, Transportation for America, Policy Advisor to the SRC
Mr. Smith, having served in local government for over 20 years and as the Chairman of Amtrak’s Board of Directors, has a wealth of knowledge and experience in multi-modal transportation. He explained his involvement over the last five years to restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast states between New Orleans and Mississippi. The SRC worked tirelessly to understand issues presented, and to achieve an agreement allowing both passenger rail and freight service to enjoy a healthy coexistence. However, efforts to delay the progress by CSX cannot go unnoticed.
Smith said, “I take no pleasure in telling you that throughout the effort to restore passenger rail, CSX RR has been neither transparent nor completely honest in dealing with the SRC, Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration as you heard from the FRA earlier today. It is time to reconnect our cities of the Gulf Coast with passenger rail and the economic opportunities that it brings. It is time for CSX to seek only the infrastructure improvements needed to facilitate this passenger rail. That is the law, and the American taxpayers deserve nothing less.”