The Biden administration has awarded $1.4 billion to projects improving railway safety and boosting rail capacity.

The Biden administration announced Monday that it has awarded more than $1.4 billion to projects that improve railway safety and boost capacity, with much of the money coming from the 2021 infrastructure law.

“These projects will make American rail safer, more reliable, and more resilient, delivering tangible benefits to dozens of communities where railroads are located, and strengthening supply chains for the entire country,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.

The money is funding 70 projects in 35 states and Washington, D.C. Railroad safety has become a key concern nationwide ever since a train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, in February. President Joe Biden has ordered federal agencies to hold the train’s operator Norfolk Southern accountable for the crash, but a package of proposed rail safety reforms has stalled in the Senate where the bill is still awaiting a vote. The White House is also saying that a possible government shutdown because of House Republicans would undermine railway safety.

The projects include track upgrades and bridge repairs, in addition to improving the connectivity among railways and making routes less vulnerable to extreme weather.

    • barsoap
      4·
      1 year ago

      Which would be fine if it didn’t take two days and had an actual schedule.

      North America is also the continent of commuter trains which drive to the city from 7 to 8:30, then back from 5:30 to 7, with no trains in between and who cares if you want to stay in the city after work for a bit and shop for model planes and would like to take a train back at 9.

      Noone gets used to just using the train with that kind of service quality, noone will actually get rid of their car. Also supermarket within biking distance is the bare minimum when it comes to everyday needs… walking distance would be better but isn’t realistic in super low density suburbia. Are Americans capable to mentally conceptualise a suburban supermarket without car parking? Slap a cafe and restaurant on there with outside seating (weather permitting, of course), as well as a handful of 4-5 storey apartment buildings to get some density to be able to justify a tram stop and small primary school and you have something going.