Amtrak is set to receive a $66 billion boost—these are the cities that will enjoy the most.
On November 15, when President Biden signs a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law, the country’s transportation systems will get a significant boost of federal funding, including one of our favorite, more environmentally beneficial modes of travel: rail.
The $66 billion, 10-year Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which the House passed on Friday, would provide Amtrak with more than $66 billion in federal funding—the highest federal investment in passenger rail service since the organization was founded 50 years ago.
So, what is Amtrak going to do with all of that money? That’s the primary aim, according to a statement sent by Amtrak.
For one thing, the rail operator will spend more on the Northeast Corridor, which encompasses lines in New England, Connecticut-Westchester, New York City, the Mid-Atlantic North, and the Mid-Atlantic South.
Amtrak is planning to pay for a 15-year Northeast Corridor project that would provide more frequent service, decrease travel times, and add connections to some new markets. Other items on the to-do list include large infrastructure and station projects for lines connecting Washington, D.C., and Boston, as well as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Springfield, Massachusetts, Amtrak says.
Finally, the rail operator revealed that it intends to replace the Northeast’s 45-year-old intercity Amfleet with new trains.
What about the rest of the United States?
Following the passage of the infrastructure bill in the House, Amtrak’s president and CEO Bill Flynn specified which American cities and regions may see new and improved rail service as a result of the additional funding in an interview on AXios on HBO. They are:
- Arizona: Phoenix–Tucson
- Ohio: Cleveland–Columbus–Dayton–Cincinnati
- California and Nevada: Los Angeles–Las Vegas
- Tennessee: Nashville
“They’re essentially new routes where service practically doesn’t exist today,” said Flynn in the interview. “I believe Nashville would be a wonderful place to pause,” he continued, noting that the city does not presently have any Amtrak services. “How many country-western songs are there about trains?”
Amtrak informed AFAR that the majority of the money would go to developing new intrastate and long-distance passenger trains and infrastructure improvements for national routes, as well as making Amtrak stations fully accessible.
Rail is also an environmental investment because it reduces highway traffic.
The announcement of new rail funding follows last week’s pledge by the United States to increase its efforts to reduce carbon emissions at the UN climate negotiations currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the transportation sector is responsible for the most carbon emissions in the United States. In 2019 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), transportation was responsible for about 29% of global emissions, followed by electricity at 25%, and industry at 23%.
Rail travel is one of the lowest carbon emitters, which means that investing in rail might help you lower your carbon footprint. According to the EPA, road vehicles are responsible for the largest proportion of air pollution, accounting for over 82% of those emissions, followed by aircraft at 9%, and rail transportation at just 2%. (Transport by ship, boat, or other means accounts for 7% alone.)
According to Amtrak, its electric trains produce 70 percent fewer emissions per passenger mile than a short-haul flight and around half those of a long-haul flight.
In conclusion, taking the train instead of a plane will almost certainly result in a lower carbon footprint. Unfortunately, in the United States, where the rail system has lagged behind in sophistication and breadth when compared to its international counterparts, including Europe’s high-speed rail networks, it has not been as simple to achieve.
Hopefully, there is change in our future!
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