Key Questions:
- In recent years, important pieces of legislation (or sections within legislation) present changes to and opportunities for freight and/or passenger rail systems. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (2021) shifted Amtrak’s focus from profitability to expanding service and modernizing infrastructure, which was met with enthusiasm among passenger rail enthusiasts. Both the Railway Safety Act and Freight RAILCAR Act have been introduced multiple times, yet both have failed to pass. To your mind, what are most important pieces of legislation on the docket today, and what do they hold for the rail workforce? Secondly, what is holding back important federal action on rail industry issues?
- Looking at ambitious freight and passenger rail projects across the state, what needs to change in order to maximize the benefit of rail infrastructure investments?
- What is the most important rail workforce issue that policymakers and/or the general project have not considered?