Intercity Passenger Rail Investment

In 2002, the Bush Administration announced a number of principles to reform the delivery of intercity passenger rail service in the United States and guide its future development. One of these principles was to “establish a long–term partnership between States and the Federal Government to support intercity passenger rail.” The Administration believes States have the primary responsibility in deciding where and how intercity passenger rail is operated while the role of the federal government is to provide funding assistance for capital investment projects.
 
In furtherance of that principle, the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Budget proposed, and the Congress enacted (as part of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008) the Capital Assistance to States – Intercity Passenger Rail Service Program. The program increases the States’ role in intercity passenger rail development by establishing the first-ever Federal-State partnership for intercity passenger rail investment along the model of those that currently exist for other modes of transportation such as for highways, airports, and transit systems.

Following the completion of a competitive evaluation of proposals submitted by 22 individual States, on September 30, 2008, Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peter announced the selection of recipients of the $30 million in available FY 2008 funding.

The President’s FY 2009 Budget proposes to continue funding for this program at a level of $100 million. Should the funding be appropriated by Congress, FRA will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the date when new applications for competitive selection may be submitted.

September 30, 2008, Press Release by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Announcing Award of Funding Under the Capital Assistance to States - Intercity Passenger Rail Service Program

Table of FY 2008 Award Recipients

Descriptions of Projects Receiving Awards