USDOT Secretary’s timing is curious

Now she tells us: That’s the sardonic response among many rail-related observers to U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peter’s pronouncement July 29 urging an overhaul of federal transportation policy and–perhaps most pronounced–funding for such policy. “Gee, ya think?” is not too cruel a reaction.

Put differently, DOT’s future gaze remains firmly on the highway horizon. It yawned last September when the Association of American Railroads detailed its $148 billion plan to increase the nation’s freight railroad capacity–and a willingness by the freight rail industry to supply roughly 70% of the funding required. We’ll repeat that: DOT got an offer by AAR to address future U.S. freight needs, with the private sector chipping in 70%; AAR was ignored.

Railway Age