MIPRC submits FY 2015 federal funding request

Last Friday (4/11), MIPRC officers submitted a request for FY 2015 federal transportation appropriations to the US House Transportation, Housing & Urban Development (THUD) subcommittee of Appropriations.

Similar to last year, the subcommittee did not have an “outside witness” hearing on the budget, but allowed interested parties to submit written testimony to be included in the official record.

MIPRC requested that the following be appropriated to the Federal Railroad Administration:

1. $225 million for the high-performance passenger rail program (PRIIA Sections 301, 302 and 501);
2. $600 million for the TIGER program (ARRA Title XXII);
3. $1 million to continue the efforts of the Next Generation Equipment Committee (PRIIA Section 305);
4. $425 million to assist in implementation of Positive Train Control (PRIIA Section 105);
5. $300 million for a state corridor program (PRIIA Section 209);
6. $25 million for the Rail Line Relocation & Improvement (RLR) Capital Grant Program (SAFETEA-LU Section 9002); and
7. $10 million for the National Cooperative Rail Research Program (NCRRP).

An explanation of each request can be found in the submitted testimony, a copy of which can be accessed here.