Connecting the entire Gulf Coast with comprehensive passenger rail
Objective
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed critical rail infrastructure along the Gulf Coast, leading to the suspension of passenger rail service throughout the region. As the region grows, communities along the route are enthusiastically supportive of the re-establishment of passenger rail service, which will support local businesses, tourism, and residents by strengthening the region’s infrastructure and economy.
The Southern Rail Commission is committed to the vision of linking the entire Gulf Coast with passenger rail starting with the segment between New Orleans and Mobile, and eventually extending to south Florida.
Project Status:
2014
· The SRC and FRA hosted the Southeast Regional Convening in New Orleans to support better rail coordination and planning between the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida
· SRC creates an alliance of elected officials, civic leaders, and businesses to strengthen regional planning and economic integration efforts across the route
2015
· Congress created the Gulf Coast Working Group (GCWG) in the 2015 federal transportation reauthorization (the FAST Act) to perform an exhaustive study service restoration
2016
· SRC announced over $2 million in FRA funding allocations to support communities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi with rail station plans, upgrades, and construction
· Over 300 people joined the SRC to ride the Gulf Coast Inspection [AP1] train from New Orleans to Jacksonville
2017
· The completed GCWG Report identified the preferred option as restoring service between: 1) New Orleans, LA and Orlando, FL via long-distance train for one daily round trip; and 2) New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL via state-supported train for one daily round trip
2019
· SRC awarded $5.45 million through the federal Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grants Program to fund operating expenses for the first and second years of restored service
· Following the R&E grant, the SRC was awarded a $33 million federal grant through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program to complete major infrastructure and capital improvements necessary for service restoration
· Both grants leverage matching commitments from the States of Louisiana and Mississippi and the City of Mobile
· Later in the year, the SRC awarded an additional $4.36 million allocation of Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) grant funding to support the first year of operating costs along the new rail line through leveraging approximately $1.4 million from the States of Louisiana and Mississippi and the City of Mobile
2021
· Amtrak filed a petition asking the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to deny CSX’s and Norfolk Southern’s motion to dismiss Amtrak’s application to restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile
2022
· The STB announced a settlement agreement between Amtrak and the freight railroads that will enable passenger rail service to begin in 2023 between New Orleans and Mobile
· Amtrak completes station renovations on the Laurel Train Depot and begins renovations on stations throughout Mississippi
Economic Opportunities
Passenger rail service would:
Improve accessibility for the more than 2 million residents in the proposed service area between New Orleans and Orlando that includes a growing senior population
Boost the Gulf Coast economy by connecting the growing population centers and tourist destinations, and support diverse jobs, health care, higher education, beaches, casinos and multiple military bases
Provide a critical evacuation route for Gulf Coast cities
Provide an alternate mode of transportation for more than 5 million people annually visiting the beaches of southern Alabama, alone, with similar numbers visiting the beaches of northwest Florida and southern Mississippi
Support growing tourism industry which has increased revenue per available room by 27 percent in the Florida Panhandle, 20 percent along the Alabama Gulf Coast, 10 percent throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast and 51 percent in Orleans Parish
Serve the workforce of growing industries such as oil and gas, petrochemical, aerospace, shipping and the military
Attract additional sales tax revenue from casino patrons, visitors and tourists
Serve communities with very high poverty rates with limited access to transportation alternatives
2016 Gulf Coast Passenger Rail Trip
On February 18 & 19, 2016, over 300 people rode the Gulf Coast Inspection train from New Orleans, Louisiana to Jacksonville, Florida as part of an ongoing effort to restore passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast, which was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina a decade ago and never resumed after the 2005 storm. To learn more and see a recap of the trip, follow the link below.