Almost a century ago, the railroads were the economic engine of the country, spurring the transportation of both goods and people over long distances. Now, the American railroad system is merely a specter of its former self. How did the United States devolve from an expanded passenger rail network to the system we have today?
Mobile’s Amtrak decision could affect $178.4 million federal grant: rail representative
The Mobile City Council’s decision on whether to subsidize the revival of an Amtrak connection to New Orleans, bringing passenger rail back to the Port City for the first time in 19 years, could have a much bigger financial impact than the $3.1 million city taxpayers are being asked to contribute.
According to the head of the Southern Rail Commission, if the council declines to support the operations of the Gulf Coast line, it could jeopardize a $178.4 million federal grant awarded last fall to Amtrak for improvements along the Gulf Coast.
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Here’s the latest on the Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans passenger rail
Efforts to establish a passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans are slowly but surely progressing.
That’s according to John Spain, senior adviser to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, who gave an update on those efforts at the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge on Wednesday.
Mobile city leaders to consider funding Amtrak’s return
MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — There are still two more contracts that must be approved before passenger rail service is restored on the Gulf Coast. The Mobile City Council must approve a land use agreement for the temporary platform by Cooper Riverside Park, and council members must approve an operational agreement.
"The operating agreement actually has the financial component to it. And it's $3,048,000 for a three year period," said Mayor Sandy Stimpson.
‘Milestone day’: Mobile board approves Amtrak project; more work before Gulf Coast line re-start
For the first time in over four years, Amtrak went before a Mobile public body requesting support for its Gulf Coast passenger rail project.
It went about as good as Amtrak officials could have hoped.
Amtrak schedule for Mobile confirmed, board of zoning adjustment considers depot location
Amtrak has laid its schedule for the proposed passenger rail service from Mobile to New Orleans.
According to Amtrak, trains would depart Mobile heading to New Orleans daily at 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Trains would arrive after leaving New Orleans at 11:18 a.m. and 9:14 p.m.
Progress for passenger rail in the South and beyond
Interstate Rail Compact Grant
The states of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana make up the Southern Rail Commission (SRC), which has been steadfastly committed to expanding passenger rail service in the South for the past 40 years, most recently achieving success for the restoration of service on the Gulf Coast.
On March 14th, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced that the SRC, along with rail commissions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic won an Interstate Rail Compact (IRC) grant. The SRC will match 50 percent of the $400,000 they have been awarded and use these funds to hire more people, market passenger rail, conduct impact studies, and apply for more federal grants. In short, they can spend the money on everything but running the service itself.
Amtrak pegs Mobile’s train obligation at $3.048 million, but long-term costs could be millions
Amtrak’s latest filing with a federal regulatory agency promises a relatively modest, short-term obligation for taxpayers in Mobile – a little more than $3 million spread out over three years.
It is the same commitment the Mobile City Council made in 2020 to restore passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.
While technically true, the filing last month to the Surface Transportation Board masks questions about operating the route over the long term. A federal grant would pay 90 percent of the operating subsidy for the first year but then taper off over the next five years, eventually going away.
Mobile’s Amtrak obligation: $3.048 million over 3 years, similar to 2020 plan
The City of Mobile will be asked to support the operations of a twice-daily Amtrak service to New Orleans for three years and at a lump-sum cost of $3.048 million, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.
The amount is on par with what the Mobile City Council approved with a 6-1 vote four years ago, in early 2020.
Amtrak Gulf Coast Passenger rail service issues could be resolved by May
According to documents filed before the Surface Transportation Board, all parties involved in the ongoing Gulf Coast Passenger rail effort believe all hurdles could be removed by May.
Amtrak and Mobile city officials met in late February, according to the paperwork, at which time Amtrak explained to the City that the only financial support would be the $3.048 million for the first three years, which was already approved by the council in 2020.