Good news! Last week, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) withdrew a proposal that MIPRC had filed opposition to during the docket’s public comments period, and issued another ruling that MIPRC favors.

MIPRC sent a letter to all U.S. Senators representing Midwestern states, asking them to strongly support and protect passenger rail-related appropriations when the FY 2017 transportation appropriations bill (S. 2844) is considered on the Senate floor.

MIPRC has submitted outside witness testimony (OWT) to the US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) for FY 2017, asking for adequate funding to continue strengthening and expanding passenger rail service in our region.

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission’s new Universities & Colleges Passenger Rail Survey of students, faculty and staff at 30 colleges and universities across the Midwest about passenger rail service presents good news both for current service and its growth potential.

MIPRC Chair Tim Hoeffner was invited to give testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation on February 23 for a hearing on “Passenger Rail: Opportunities and Challenges for the National Network.”

MIPRC submitted comments to the STB on two important issues.

On October 1, MIPRC sent a letter to Midwestern Members of Congress, supporting an extension of the Positive Train Control (PTC) deadline, with authority for FRA to review and enforce.

MIPRC appreciates the U.S. House and Senate’s effort to reauthorize Amtrak funding and the programs of the Federal Railroad Administration. The commission believes that the continued development of a national intercity passenger rail system is a crucial component of our nation’s transportation network and that such a national system is needed to compensate for the ever-worsening problems of highway and aviation congestion.

HR 749, the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015, was passed by the House in March. As the Senate Commerce Committee considers the legislation, MIPRC asked for several considerations that we believe would strengthen the bill.

MIPRC submitted "outside witness testimony" to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies for FY 2016, asking for adequate funding for both Amtrak and the passenger rail-related programs managed by the Federal Railroad Administration.

On Nov. 12, MIPRC submitted a Statement of Interest and Qualifications on behalf of the Midwestern states for participating in an FRA-led regional rail planning process.

In the short timeframe provided, the Midwest received more than 90 letters of support from a wide variety of supporters across the region.