High-Speed Rail Appropriations and Amtrak Appoints HSR VP

March 29, 2023

 • Newsletter,Policy and Legislation

Cedar Viaduct

High Speed Rail Appropriations Request

Senator Ossoff and Representatives Beyers, Costa, DelBene and Moulton are leading a sign-on letter to the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations committee requesting that $3.5 billion be allocated to world-standard high-speed rail in the FY2024 budget.

Please ask your Senators and Representatives to sign this letter!

In 2021 the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) created a solid foundation for improving intercity rail across the country, but it did not fund the high-speed rail account. It’s important that we build on the IIJA by appropriating dedicated funding for high-speed rail projects.

Regions across the U.S. are launching ambitious high-speed rail infrastructure initiatives, and support for high-speed rail is strong and growing. Now we need Congress to provide the funding that’s necessary for developing a national high-speed rail network.

Take Action

Amtrak Appoints Andy Byford to Lead High-Speed Rail Program

Amtrak has appointed Andy Byford as Senior Vice President for their high-speed rail program, effective April 10. Byford was previously President of MTA New York City Transit, where he earned the nickname “Train Daddy,” as he improved on-time subway performance and approved spending for modernizing city subways and buses.

According to an internal Amtrak memo, Byford will oversee the development of high-speed rail and “ensure operational strategy alignment between new HSR programs and our current network.”

We are excited to see a well-respected and experienced transportation professional take over the role of developing high-speed rail programs for Amtrak.

Read More:

Andy Byford to Join Amtrak (Streetsblog NYC – Original Story)

“Train Daddy” Andy Byford to Join Amtrak (Railway Age)

Andy Byford—‘Train Daddy’—Returns to the U.S. to Save Amtrak (MSN)

Andy Byford Will Oversee High-Speed Rail at Amtrak (Crain’s NY)

 

Articles We Enjoyed:

Will Passenger Trains Finally Return to Columbus?

Amtrak, Southern Rail Commission, Take Steps to Bring Service Back to the Deep South

Amtrak, NY State DOT and VIA Rail Canada Fully Restore Adirondack Service (Amtrak(

The World’s Fastest Railway Operations (Railway Gazette)

The Latest from HSRA

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How trains could transform Cleveland

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Cleveland wants to reinvent its downtown and lakefront. Great trains are the critical missing piece. Key takeaway: Local civic and business leaders should work with the governor’s office, the legislature, and the Ohio Department of Transportation to establish great...