Mayor LaToya Cantrell today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a pending merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern. This partnership provides an opportunity to expand rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, utilizing funding as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that includes approximately $66 billion in grant dollars for passenger rail services and expansion programs.

“The recent commitment from Canadian Pacific to provide one round-trip service per day between New Orleans and Baton Rouge is a vital step forward in our continued push to link New Orleans by rail along the Gulf South,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This critical connection will expand regional transportation and employment opportunities, and can provide an additional mode of evacuation from forecasted storms, giving residents immediate transit service out of harm’s way in the event of an emergency. This is a win-win for our entire region, connecting communities through transformative infrastructure projects and by improving public safety as we continue to experience faster, more intense storms.”