US States will be directly eligible for federal funding for the first time to improve intercity passenger rail services.
The $30m (”15m) capital grant will require a 50-50 funding match from States, a common requirement with US transport investments. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will administer the programme and begin accepting applications on 18 March. The first grants will be made later this year.
”We want to encourage and support the kind of State investments that are making a difference for passenger rail services,” said US Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters, noting that use of state-supported intercity routes nearly doubled (up 88%) between 1996 and 2006, vastly outpacing the 17% increase on all other routes combined.
A US Department of Transportation statement said projects eligible for funding include: ”Upgrading existing track to permit higher maximum operating speeds, adding or lengthening passing tracks to increase rail line capacity, improving track switches and signalling systems to advance reliability and safety and purchasing new passenger rail cars to enhance the travel experience.”
Peters stressed that the Bush Administration specifically called for this Federal-State funding partnership, as part of its long-standing reform of intercity rail services.
FRA Joseph H. Boardman, said: ”Rail passengers demand improved service and quality and this grant program will allow states to address these concerns.”
Individual or multiple states working together can submit applications.
” Amtrak is deploying a new Mobile Security Team to patrol stations and trains to randomly inspect passengers” bags in order to ”minimise the risk of terrorist threats.”
This move - to be deployed nationwide - is not in response to any new or particular threat, and is in full coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
”Keeping our customers and employees safe remains our priority,” said Amtrak president and CEO Alex Kummant. ”These new procedures will strengthen Amtrak”s overall security, and they are vital in our efforts to deter, detect, and prevent a terrorist incident on the rail system.”
Inspections will ”typically take less than a minute” says the rail company”s statement, and passengers will have the right to refuse inspection ” but will not be able to board the train if they do, and will instead be given a ticket refund.
Security Team squads ”may consist of armed specialised Amtrak police, explosives-detecting K-9 units (using dogs) and armed counter-terrorism special agents.”