After raising concerns about implementation of positive train control (PTC) on freight and passenger rail, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent announcement that $73 million in grant funding would be made available.
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, the senators noted that the deadline for PTC was approaching at the end of the year and that it’s “imperative” for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to make grant funding available for railroads to complete the “technically challenging safety upgrade.”
The letter noted that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 allocated $218 million for FRA Safety and Operations and that Congress allocated an additional $68 million for Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants in fiscal year 2017.
In applauding FRA’s announcement that applications would be accepted for $73 million in grant funding for intercity passenger rail initiatives, Collins and Reed said “these funds are an important resource for bolstering the safety of our nation’s railways.”
“There is simply no time to waste when it comes to ensuring that railway accidents like the ones we’ve seen in recent months are prevented, that Positive Train Control is implemented, and that Americans can feel safe when traveling by train.” the senators said in a joint statement. “We are proud to have joined our colleagues in the House in providing this funding last May and urging Secretary Chao to speed its release. We’re glad to see progress finally being made.”