The bill provides a total of $3.46 billion for federal rail programs and $17 billion for the Federal Transit Administration. That includes:
$2.63 billion for Amtrak operations, an increase of $210 million over FY24 levels and $530 million more than the House version;
$1.61 billion for National Network operations;
Allows Amtrak to use for $66 million in National Network funds for corridor development activities, including $10 million for a new Atlanta intercity passenger rail hub and $20 million for Pacific Northwest rail improvements;
$1.02 billion for Northeast Corridor operations;
$292 million for the FRA’s Safety and Operations budget, an increase of $24 million over FY24 and $4 million more than the House version ;
$100 million for the Federal-State Partnership Intercity Passenger Rail Program, an increase of $25 million over FY24 and $100 million more than the House version;
Includes a $15 million set-aside for the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation to rehabilitate and repair the Washington Union Station complex;
$475 million for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant program, an increase of $276 million over FY24 levels and $176 million more than the House version, including $75 million in Congressional Directed Spending earmarks:
Sen. Krysten Sinema (D-AZ) secured $3.85 million for the City of Flagstaff for improvements to the Flagstaff Amtrak Station platform;
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-AZ) secured $2.9 million for the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission for PTC installation work that will allow for expanded ACE rail service;
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) secured $2 million for the City of Detroit for improvements to the Michigan Central Intermodal Passenger Station; and
$2.3 billion for Capital Investment Grants, a $57 million increase over FY24 and $1.5 billion more than the House version.
The Senate bill also included several policy provisions, many of which are familiar from our work with Congress over the past years:
National Network Services: the bill emphasized that Amtrak’s long-distance routes provide much needed transportation access in hundreds of communities and for rural areas where mobility options are limited. It also states that routes providing service to rural areas from urban areas along the northeast corridor are equally important. The Committee underscored that it does not support proposals that will inevitably lead to long-term or permanent service cuts or segmentation of routes, which will result in less service for rural communities.
Amtrak Station Agents: requires Amtrak to provide station agents at all Amtrak stations that had a ticket agent position eliminated in fiscal year 2018, and to communicate and collaborate with local partners and take into consideration the unique needs of each community, including impacts to local jobs, when making decisions related to the staffing of Amtrak stations.
Food and Beverage: urges Amtrak to provide food and beverage services in a cost-effective manner consistent with available funds, and update Congress on the food and beverage offerings, new initiatives, and operating loss, as appropriate.
Lactation Accommodations: recognizes Amtrak’s work to implement lactation accommodations for nursing employees and customers, and encourages Amtrak to consider the continued expansion of such accommodations on board its trains and stations.
Midwest Rail Commission Study: the bill directs the DOT and the FRA, in coordination with Amtrak, to study and provide recommendations on ways to establish a federally authorized commission for the purposes of developing a long-term delivery strategy for Midwest rail, including identifying projects in need of prioritization. The study should include recommendations on how to most appropriately establish a Federal entity, including where the Commission would ideally be housed. The findings and recommendations shall be provided to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 6 months of passage of the bill.
