Railroads applaud bipartisan infrastructure vote, urge House to follow Senate’s lead

Today, the Senate voted on a bipartisan basis to advance vital legislation to modernize the nation’s public infrastructure and empower economic growth into the future. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes a full five-year surface transportation reauthorization, which was the product of thoughtful, consensus-based negotiations in the Senate Commerce and Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committees.

“Throughout this year’s infrastructure conversations, the Senate has remained clear-eyed and committed to building consensus around a package that could help pave the way to future economic growth,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “Today, it delivered. Railroads applaud the Senate and the Biden administration on their leadership and urge the House to follow suit by quickly approving this landmark legislation.”

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes nearly $845 million per year for highway-rail grade crossing safety and improvement projects and an average of $5.55 billion per year for discretionary infrastructure grant programs, including $1 billion per year for the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant program, which provides essential support to short line and passenger railroads as well as state departments of transportation. Additionally, the legislation enhances the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program and provides significant funding for intercity passenger rail with a set-aside to address Northeast Corridor maintenance backlogs and replace current critical infrastructure. Finally, the bill includes significant funding for research, development and demonstration projects that will play an important role in creating and further refining technologies that will help railroads to continue reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and further address climate change.