The Federal Railroad Administration is touting a loosening of rules and looking towards the private sector for help in improving passenger rail operations.
"FRA believes that we also need to modernize our regulations to better align with the needs of a modern industry," said David Fink, FRA administrator.
"We are building a business-friendly environment that encourages private investment and modernization while holding safety as our highest value. Looking ahead we plan to issue new rules that will hasten technology development and adoption."
The comments came during the FRA's first ever summit dedicated to railroad technology at Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington D.C., on Tuesday.
The FRA is an agency within DOT that regulates passenger and freight traffic that's connected to the national rail system.
Passenger rail shares track space with freight trains which frequently creates bottlenecks. Blocked crossings are another logistic and safety headache that the FRA is attempting to minimize with $1.1 billion investment into improving railroad crossings.
"From installing automated equipment to eliminating unsafe crossings, we are committed to delivering a safer railroad system for Americans," said Fink.
Federal grants for infrastructure improvement often require local matching funds that are sometimes raised through bond sales.
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The funding can be used for building over or under passes, upgrading safety technology, relocating tracks, or education efforts.
Rail travel took a major hit during the pandemic, but ridership has since bounced back in many markets.
"We just had a record for revenue ridership last year," said Lisa Copeland, vice president of customer loyalty and engagement for Amtrak. "We had an incredible Q1 and a really strong Q2 and we are on track to see continued record ridership."
Earlier this month FRA acknowledged the uptick by announcing a $4.7 billion investment into rail projects on Amtrak's Northeast corridor including New York's Penn Station and Washington D.C.'s Union Station.
"The Northeast Corridor is the busiest and most complex rail line in America," said Fink. "From modernizing our flagship stations to working at the Speed of Trump to get dirt moving again, Secretary Duffy and I are committed to using taxpayer dollars on projects that advance safety for the American people."
The Trump administration has a history of contentious relationships with major public transit organizations in New York, Washington, and Charlotte over safety concerns and congestion pricing.
The FRA has also announced a $2.04 billion investment into the agency's popular Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program that focuses on improving regional railroad infrastructure.
While the federal grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation continue to flow out, Congress is working on the next surface transportation bill.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves has signaled the new bill will downplay grants in exchange for more formula funding.
Graves, who announced his retirement at the end of his term, pegs the next bill at $550 billion with separate titles for rail and transit.
"APTA's Surface Transportation Authorization Recommendations call on Congress to invest $130 billion in passenger rail over the next five years—to continue driving innovation and new technologies to enhance safety, security, and the rider experience," said Paul P. Skoutelas, president and CEO of the American Public Transit Association.
