This once-in-a-lifetime deal is the largest federal investment in public transit ever, and the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak in 1971. Connecting goods across the country and getting millions of passengers to their destinations, the American rail network is essential to the success of our country’s economy and is vital to our nation’s future.
The Senate has passed bipartisan infrastructure investment legislation, which will bring a monumental amount of funding to our country. At Siemens Mobility, we applaud this positive milestone. The $1.2 trillion infrastructure package will grow our economy, create American jobs, and transform our nation’s aging infrastructure.
As part of the deal, transit funding is expected to receive $39 billion in new investment above levels provided in recent years to fund the nation’s transit system repair backlog. This includes more than 5,000 rail cars, 200 stations, and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems across the country. A major step to get our nation’s outdated rail back on track, this money will allow for the much needed maintenance, replacement and rehabilitation of transit assets in poor conditions.
We are also excited that the bill includes $66 billion in intercity rail funding, including for Amtrak’s National Network, dedicating $6 billion specifically for procurement and maintenance backlog to the Northeast Corridor and $12 billion for intercity rail service and high-speed rail. As an Amtrak rider myself, I look forward to the introduction of expanded routes and the possibility of high-speed rail on the world-class train service.
The deal also includes a provision to modernize the highway/rail crossing safety program and $3 billion dedicated to increasing safety at highway-rail grade crossings. With more than 250,000 of these crossings in the United States, increasing their safety is of utmost importance to save lives and keep America moving.
This once-in-a-lifetime deal is the largest federal investment in public transit ever, and the largest federal investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak in 1971. Connecting goods across the country and getting millions of passengers to their destinations, the American rail network is essential to the success of our country’s economy and is vital to our nation’s future.
I urge the House of Representatives to swiftly consider this bill and fund our rail system so that we can build the future systems, today.
Written By:
Marc Buncher, CEO
Siemens Mobility Inc.
