Senators unite in attempt to fund Amtrak fund infrastructure fix

Amtrak has two white knights battling to provide much-needed funds to boost infrastructure spending. The recent passage of a $242 million budget cut for the year has meant that the beleaguered public transportation agency is even more desperate for cash to spend on non-revenue generating activities such as new technology and upgraded rails.

The two warriors for a safer Amtrak form an unlikely alliance: Senators Roger Wicker, a Republican from Mississippi and Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey. One represents a northern state with an enormous benefit from Amtrak and the other hails from a southern state that relies more on road infrastructure than passenger rail.

Nonetheless, the duo is attempting to pass the "Railroad Reform, Enhancement, and Efficiency Act" which would top up Amtrak's infrastructure budget with $9 billion to fund safety improvements. Booker highlights not only the safety aspect of a vibrant rail system, but also its role in lubricating the wheels of business:

To help the United States compete globally, we must invest in a safe and reliable passenger rail system that Americans can depend on. But too often our rail system falls short due to a lack of adequate infrastructure investment.

While the bill has an uncertain future in the Senate, there was a similar bill passed by the more-contentious House called Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act, which promised $7.8 billion in funding. However, its scope was far more limited to the Northwest Corridor, while the Senate version looks to provide funding and support for the nationwide network of Amtrak rails.

This added investment could be a good thing too — despite the recent horrific crash, there have been plenty of positive steps by Amtrak to increase its passenger count and improve traveler satisfaction: listing its fares on metasearch sites, allowing dogs and cats, and a maintaining a solid value for points redemptions for Northeast corridor travelers. But if its not safe, none of these improvements matter.