Congress Introduces "All Aboard Act"

Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) reintroduced the All Aboard Act yesterday, a proposal that would dedicate $200 billion over five years to build modern electrified passenger rail across the U.S.

“Electrifying America’s railways would revolutionize how we move people and goods throughout the country, providing more efficient intercity connections and strengthening economic activity between regions,” said Jim Mathews, President & CEO of Rail Passengers Association. “We applaud Senator Markey and Congressman DeLuzio for their leadership on the All Aboard Act, which takes seriously the scope of the challenges—and opportunities—involved in modernizing the U.S. rail network.”

The All Aboard Act would:

• Expand Passenger Rail and High-Speed Rail: invest $150 billion over five years across several successful rail grant programs established or expanded in the Infrastructure Investment in Jobs Act (IIJA), including:
  • $80 billion to the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail;
  • $30 billion to the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety Improvement program;
  • $30 billion for Amtrak; and
  • $10 billion for the Railroad Crossing Elimination program.
• Esatblish a Dedicated Rail Formula Program: create a first-of-its-kind, $3.5 billion rail formula program for states to perform rail planning, maintenance, operations, and capital investment.
• Create a Green Railroad Fund: dedicate $50 billion over five years to electrify polluting rail yards, support electric high-performance passenger rail projects, and electrify the existing highest trafficked corridors by freight and passenger trains.

Read more about the bill here.