AMTRAK FILING PETITION WITH SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO EXPEDITE GULF COAST SERVICE

The Southern Rail Commission released the following statement today in response to Amtrak’s announcement that it will be filing a petition with the Surface Transportation Board:

“We lost passenger rail service along the gulf coast fifteen years ago when Hurricane Katrina damaged the rails and while those tracks have been repaired, passenger rail did not restart. Congress directed the FRA to lead an analysis to determine everything it would take to return service, and the SRC worked with the FRA to deliver that report in 2017 which identified $66 million in infrastructure needs. We have that funding now secured and we are ready to move forward,” said Knox Ross, Mississippi SRC Commissioner. “Our local communities are frustrated by all the years of studying and waiting, and we are hoping this public and transparent process will resolve all outstanding issues so that service can begin soon.”

The STB is a federal independent board established by Congress with regulatory oversight over rail systems and their business relationships to protect the interest of all users of surface transportation networks and to resolve disputes when they cannot be resolved by other means. Amtrak has the right of access to operate passenger service along the gulf coast corridor and has requested that the STB expedite their application to support their intent to start service between Mobile and New Orleans in January 2022. The STB will make a determination whether they will hold a hearing or find another way to reach a resolution.

Congress created the Gulf Coast Working Group in the 2015 federal transportation reauthorization called FAST Act to perform an exhaustive study on restoring the service, which was a process administered by the FRA. The GCWG report was completed in July 2017 identifying FRA’s priority infrastructure projects along the gulf coast. In June 2019, 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 expanded freight capacity and service restoration. These federal grants also leverage matching commitments from the States of Louisiana and Mississippi for a total of $66 million in funding available to allow Amtrak to move ahead with launching daily passenger service between New Orleans and Mobile.

AMTRAK TO COMPLETE PLATFORM REPAIRS ON GULF COAST STATIONS

Today, Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President of Stations and Accessibility, made the following remarks at the quarterly meeting of the Southern Rail Commission:

“Amtrak recently dispatched a full team to assess the remaining work underway on stations along the Mobile to New Orleans route to ensure they are ready for passenger rail service to start in 2022,” said Dr. David Handera. “Amtrak will work with the cities on a phased approach to initially modify the existing platforms and complete all needed repairs in the path of travel. Amtrak’s intent is to pay for these repairs, subject to FRA approval, and also to invest in constructing new accessible, well-lit, ADA complaint platforms in phase two. We are working with FRA on assembling funding sources for short-term and long-term repairs, and will work collaboratively with the cities to redirect current grant funds towards other station upgrades that improve the path of travel to the station, such as accessible parking, lighting, and other depot amenities.”

With funding secured for the first three years of operations for the New Orleans to Mobile service, Amtrak recently announced they intend to start service in January 2022. The SRC has secured over $66 million in federal grants and local matching funds for improvements to railroad infrastructure that will benefit passenger and freight service along the route. The SRC awarded grants to Mobile, Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, and Bay St. Louis for planning and improvements to rail stations along the Mobile to New Orleans route. Under Amtrak’s new commitment, Amtrak would repair existing platforms in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Mobile in phase one and install new platforms in phase two. In Pascagoula, Amtrak would bring in a temporary platform in phase one and install a new platform in phase two.

In Mobile, the city plans to locate the rail station at the new Mobile airport at Brookley Field, but is awaiting the final results of an alternatives analysis before determining the final station location. Amtrak officials stated, “We cannot commit to investment in additional locations today in Mobile, but will work closely with Mobile officials on their plans which would follow Amtrak’s normal course of planning for new station development.” 

The Southern Rail Commission recently issued a Notice of Funding Availability soliciting applications from communities within Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama for station improvements. Responses are due today at 5 p.m.