The Department of Transportation announced a more than $2 billion investment in the nation’s railways in an effort to improve travel experiences for families.
DOT’s investment will provide support for projects that “reduce congestion, jumpstart ridership growth on passenger railroads, improve regional railroad infrastructure,” and “develop safety programs to prevent trespassing and reduce injuries and fatalities,” the department explained.
“Under President Trump, America is building again,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “This Administration is focused on improving passenger rail to help American families connect to jobs, education, and medical appointments, as well as fast tracking the movement of commerce. At USDOT, we are laser focused on ushering in the Golden Age of American rail.”
“President Trump and Secretary Duffy are delivering a stronger railroad industry that will make transportation safer for families and more streamlined for companies moving freight on our rails,” said FRA Administrator David Fink. “From the suburbs to rural communities, we want to equip our partners with the resources they need to modernize our rail infrastructure.”
The investment contrasts with recent withdrawals from states that violated DOT policy. Last week, Duffy announced that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is withholding more than $73 million in federal highway funds from New York. The action followed through on Duffy’s warning that New York must comply with rules surrounding non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) or face losing millions of dollars in federal highway funding.
Last year, the DOT pulled funding for California’s $4 billion high-speed rail project after more than a decade of mismanagement.
