Paul Comfort’s Post

HUGE NEWS: The California High-Speed Rail project gets largest federal grant to date -- nearly $3.1 billion in Federal-State Partnership funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration! This funding is critical to moving the nation’s first high-speed rail system toward passenger service by the end of the decade. This project has seen huge progress over the last few years, and we’re not slowing down: 🏗️ 119 Miles of Construction 👷♂️ 12,200+ Jobs Created 👪 800+ Small Business Partners 💰 $16B in Economic Output This is largest transportation grant the project has ever received and is further proof of President Biden’s strong and continuing support to build the fast, efficient, and clean 21st century transportation system that Americans deserve. #BuildHSR #CleanGreenHSR

California High Speed Rail History 🚄 1996: 📌 State legislator creates California High-Speed Rail Authority. 2008: 📌 Voters approve $9.95B bond measure to construct high speed rail from LA to San Fran. 📌 Travel time of under 3 hours, construction cost of around $33B, trains operating by 2030. 2015: 📌 High-speed rail construction begins in Fresno. 2018: 📌 Delays, cost overruns, and poor project management. 2022: 📌 Construction underway along 119 miles of California central valley. 📌 Cost estimate now around $113B. 2023: 📌 Cost estimate upped to $128B. 📌 Timeline for service to commence changed to "between 2030 and 2033". Imperium Global #california #californiaconstruction #heavycivil

In a groundbreaking move, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has allocated a staggering $16.4 billion for 25 transformative passenger rail projects along the bustling Northeast Corridor (NEC), a vital railroad artery spanning from Boston to Washington, D.C. Renowned as one of the world's most heavily traversed passenger rail routes and the busiest in the United States, the NEC serves as a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of daily commuters. Beyond its immediate impact, this corridor fuels billions of dollars in annual economic activity, positioning it as a linchpin in the national economy. These visionary projects, carefully chosen through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program (Fed-State NEC), signify a monumental step toward enhancing the future of rail travel, revitalizing communities, and bolstering the nation's economic vitality. #BuildingGreatTeamsTogether #Construction #Infrastructure

Don’t understand why this takes so long. Any other country would’ve had it done in five years if it was, China would be done in 18 months and within budget. The US it’s over budget before it even starts. if this is the company, we would’ve fired the leaders. The political system is broken in so many ways. I would think that we need to have sunset set clause in our laws, age restrictions for politicians if you at retirement age, then you need to retire you can still be an advisor to people and companies, but not it’s leaders. Don’t think this will fix it all but it’s should be a step in the right direction.

Exciting developments in Texas transportation! While the Dallas to Houston high-speed rail project is making headlines, another innovative option is being explored: a high-speed rail connection between Dallas and Fort Worth. This option could revolutionize travel between these two major cities, enhancing connectivity and economic growth. #HighSpeedRail #TexasInfrastructure #DallasFortWorth #Transportation

Here’s how Pennsylvania’s infrastructure has benefited from some major federal investments - Learn more about the investments into airports in PA and how it is playing a crucial role in the aviation industry in PA https://ow.ly/oCBY50QEHwO

In case you missed it, last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation - Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) announced a $1.4 Billion in Infrastructure Funding for 70 Projects. . The FRA has awarded a $1.4 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program grants. These grants will support 70 #rail improvement projects across 35 #states. While many of these projects focus on enhancing freight-rail safety and bolstering #supplychains, they also mark a promising step towards expanding passenger #rail services to more #communities nationwide. Projects will benefit every region of the country, with nearly two-thirds of CRISI funding flowing to rural #communities. Notable highlights include: Amtrak and Partners: Approximately $200 million each granted to Amtrak and its collaborators for vital initiatives, including grade separations and #rail expansion projects. The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) - Rail Expansion: The Virginia Franconia-Springfield Bypass Project, with up to $100 million in funding, aims to construct a new rail flyover bridge on the RF&P corridor, connecting Washington, DC to Richmond, VA. This project addresses train interferences due to high daily volume. Norfolk Southern Railway - Gulf Coast Corridor: The Mississippi Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement Project, funded up to $178.4 million and led by Amtrak, focuses on track and signal improvements, grade crossings, and station enhancements along a key rail corridor from New Orleans, LA, to Mobile, AL. It enhances competitiveness, reliability, and introduces two daily intercity passenger rail trips. Maryland Department of Transportation - Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) Port of Baltimore Electric Locomotives: With up to $11.6 million in funding, this project replaces three older diesel-electric locomotives with zero-emission battery electric ones at the Port of Baltimore. It reduces emissions and noise, benefiting port employees, shippers, and communities. CSX contributes a 50 percent non-Federal match. Penn-Camden Connector Project: Funded at up to $8.8 million, this project develops a new rail connection between MARC Penn and Camden Lines. It enhances passenger and freight rail operations, improves reliability, and supports future station redevelopment plans. MTA provides a 20 percent non-Federal match. This significant investment in rail #infrastructure and #safety will have far-reaching impacts on #transportation efficiency, safety, and connectivity throughout the country. To learn more about the grants and remaining awarded projects, check out the US DOT FRA FY 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Program Selections summary here: https://lnkd.in/gpYQSF2V

The administration is putting $8.2 billion in funding toward 10 rail projects throughout the country, including nearly a third for a high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. “Other passenger rail projects that will receive funding include a Los Angeles-San Francisco train that will reach 220 miles per hour, a rail expansion between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, and other upgrades in Pennsylvania, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana and other states,” Infrastructure investments are so important — they’re mundane on paper but perhaps the most relative to our daily lives and economy. The jobs to build and maintain them, and the access communities will now have because of them.

Big news! The Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Administration has awarded Amtrak an unprecedented nearly $10 billion in federal funding that will help transform the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and your future travel experience. These grants will support work to:  ✔️ Replace aging tunnels, bridges and tracks  ✔️ Improve safety, reliability and travel speeds  ✔️ Expand capacity for more trains and riders  ✔️ Modernize America’s busiest rail corridor These grants will help advance our plans to modernize the NEC and unlock major bottlenecks on America’s busiest rail corridor.     We want to thank President Biden, USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg and FRA Administrator Amit Bose for their continued support as Amtrak and our partners rebuild this critical asset. With this funding, we’re not just rebuilding; we’re continuing our mission of delivering a new era of rail for you, our customers, stakeholders and employees. Want to learn more about this historic news? Read all about it here: https://lnkd.in/gaQz7Wct.   #Amtrak #NEC #NortheastCorridor #Infrastructure

Houston did very well in the first round of Federal Railroad Administration grants to conduct formal studies to expand passenger rail service in the US. Approved studies include increasing the existing Sunset Limited, which runs through Houston between New Orleans and Los Angeles, from thrice weekly to daily service; new conventional speed service between Houston and Dallas and Houston and San Antonio, and High Speed Rail from Houston to Ft. Worth via College Station and Dallas. This is very exciting news for Houstonians looking for an affordable, convenient and reliable alternative to clogged, dangerous highways and crowded airports. The attached article has more information on these and other studies approved for new and improved passenger rail services across Texas and elsewhere in the US. Hurray!