The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has awarded 900,000 USD to three agencies to enhance intercity passenger rail services.
This funding, awarded through the Interstate Rail Compacts (IRC) Grant Program, will improve and expand passenger rail networks in the Midwest, South, and Southeast.
Specifically, the funding will support the MIPRC Expansion Project in Illinois, the SRC Rail-Ready Project in Louisiana, and the VA-NC Compact Administration & Southeast Rail Network Analysis Project in North Carolina.
Illinois: MIPRC Expansion Project
The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) will be awarded up to 300,000 USD for the MIPRC Expansion Project in Illinois.
This grant will help MIPRC develop and implement a robust passenger rail network in the Midwest region.
MIPRC will provide a 50 percent non-federal match for this funding.
Louisiana: SRC Rail-Ready Project: Building Capacity to Expand Passenger Rail across the American South
The Southern Rail Commission (SRC) will gain up to 400,000 USD to support the expansion of intercity passenger rail services in the Southeast region.
This IRC funding will cover costs associated with commission administration, rail corridor planning, intercity passenger rail promotion, federal grant application preparation, and rail operation coordination.
The SRC will also provide a 50 percent non-federal match.
North Carolina: VA-NC Compact Administration & Southeast Rail Network Analysis Project
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NC DOT) on behalf of the Virginia – North Carolina Interstate High-Speed Rail Compact Commission (VA-NC HSR Compact) will receive up to 200,000 USD for the Southeast Rail Network Analysis.
This project will help improve the fluidity of the Southeast rail network for both passenger and freight rail.
NC DOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will also contribute funds totalling a 50 percent non-federal match.
“As funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law advances transformative rail projects in communities around the country, FRA is supporting all elements needed for new passenger rail services, from planning and development to the implementation of service. The Interstate Rail Compacts Grant Program fills a vital need by providing entities implementing interstate rail compacts with the resources to build up an organisational and human infrastructure for the fluid operation of new services that will meet the needs of local communities.”
