I have always felt that the multi-billion dollar unfunded mandate was always means to kill some passenger trains under the disguise of "more safety" in addition to the train operational safety reasons stated publically. If the federal government truly believed it was a safety improvement, they would have found a way to provide a reasonable share of funding for passenger train operators from year one of the mandate. The small amounts recently provided funds may help slightly, but a true funding commitment was needed within the first four years after the mandate was passed if they truly believed it was a safety improvement.
The Feds were putting huge amounts of money into the new air traffic control system (NEXTGEN) to DEVELOP and INSTALL it when they not not providing one penny towards PTC. If safety was the true and only reason, they would have equivalent efforts to funds both PTC and the new air traffic control sysytem. The FED Department of Transportation did not do this. Also, NEXTGEN will reduce the operating costs for airlines.
Information on the FAA website: "Starting with our initial 2007 investments and continuing through to 2030, NextGen is projected to cost the FAA and taxpayers about $20.6 billion and aviation industry partners about $15 billion for new equipment and training.
Here is the breakdown of direct costs to the FAA and taxpayers:
$16 billion for facilities and equipment
$3.1 billion for operations
$1.5 billion for research and development"
BENEFITS: "The FAA estimates that NextGen's implemented improvements have accrued $4.7 billion worth of benefits from 2010-2017, which consists of $2.6 billion in decreased passenger travel time, $1.8 billion in lower aircraft operating expenses, and $300 million in safety benefits."
Link:
https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/faqs/#q7
