Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama are among the Federal Railway Administration’s 15 worst states for highway-rail grade crossing collisions, according to a recent report by Operation Lifesaver, a nonprofit organization nationally recognized as a leader in rail safety education.
SRC Advocacy on Capitol Hill
The Southern Rail Commission recently visited Washington, D.C., asking legislators to support the SRC’s application for Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grants and help back new, improved, daily passenger rail service between Mobile, AL, and New Orleans, with daily stops at town centers across Mississippi. They also advocated for making passenger rail a priority in surface transportation reauthorization by improving and expanding expiring passenger rail grant programs, promoting regional collaboration, preserving and expanding the existing national network, and reforming the overall system to better integrate passenger rail.
Chairman Wiley Blankenship (AL), Secretary/Treasurer Knox Ross (MS), Vice-Chairman John Spain (LA), and Commissioner Stephen McNair, Ph.D. (AL) in D.C.
Highlights of the December 6, 2019 Commission meeting
Ms. Jennifer Green, Director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Jacksonville State University, prepared and provided a presentation to the Southern Rail Commission on the potential economic impact of expanded passenger rail service for the state of Alabama. The study examined feasibility studies for rail services connecting Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile while also evaluating the studies for high-speed rail from Atlanta, GA to Birmingham. The study accounts for potential economic impacts from tourism, construction, operations, and other investments that create benefit to the entire state. The report has been provided to the Commission for comments and further suggestions. Following the completion of the report, Ms. Green will work with CPEX for the development of an Executive Summary. The report in its entirety will be made available through the Commission’s website and Facebook page upon final approval and release. “As a follow up to the great work done by the University of Southern Mississippi’s Trent Lott Center on the economic impact related to the restart of passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, it was professionally rewarding to conduct this assessment for the state of Alabama and to create an informative document,” says Green.
The Commission presented a Leadership Award to retired MDOT Commissioner and champion of passenger rail, Dick Hall. The Commission also recognized outgoing Chairman John Spain for his service.
ADECA/Federal Railroad Administration Feasibility Study: Phase 2, Intercity Passenger Rail Montgomery to Mobile, AL available for review
SRC Release- Poll Shows Wide Support of New Orleans to Baton Rouge Passenger Rail Service
A new poll being released today shows that 85% of the respondents think it is very important or important to have an intercity rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The poll also found that 63% said they would use the train and more than 80% supported the state including passenger rail in the transportation options they currently provide along with highways and airports .
Click following link for Poll Data:
Click Following links for Renderings:
SRC Response to Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission's letter to CSX
On June 21, the SRC submitted a letter to the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission in response to the Commission's letter to CSX on June 14, 2018.
SRC to host press conference Monday in support of Mississipp passenger rail
Join us in support of restored gulf coast passenger rail!
When: Monday, June 18, 2018 – 2:00 pm
Where: Gulfport Train Depot - 1419 27th Avenue (click for map)
Who: Tom King, MDOT District 1 Commissioner
Knox Ross, Vice Chair, Southern Rail Commission
Yuanyuan Zhang, PhD, Professor of Research, Trent Lott National Center, University of Southern MS
John Robert Smith, Chair, Transportation for America; Former Mayor, Meridian, MS
and others
Why: The Trent Lott National Center at the University of Southern Mississippi has prepared a report detailing the economic benefits to the Mississippi taxpayers of restored passenger rail along the gulf coast.
The key finding from this report estimates the return on investment for this train is between $64 million and $525 million annually depending on the increase in tourism.
Federal funding is available for the restoration of passenger rail service along the gulf coast, and the deadline to apply for it is June 21st. These grants require a non-federal match. A combined state-local commitment is envisioned to cover the $14.82 million needed from Mississippi.
The Governor is working with the three coastal counties to secure the non-federal match required to make this service a reality. These funds would flow over several years so the Governor and localities will never have to write a check for all the money at one time.