READING, Pa. – The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority on Monday afternoon heard a advice from its advisor to have its govt committee head to Washington D.C. in February to have conferences with members of Congress and different key officers.
John Robert Smith is the chairman for Transportation for America, which was chosen by the authority as its advisor earlier this 12 months.
The authority is a three way partnership between Berks, Montgomery and Chester Counties and is tasked with the long-term purpose of restoring passenger rail service from Studying to Philadelphia.
“We’re suggesting a go to to Washington, DC in February to satisfy with not solely your delegation, however each chair and rating member of each committee that has jurisdiction within the Home and the Senate, each appropriations and authorization, and with FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) and DOT (Division of Transportation) officers, and if doable, with the White Home itself,” Smith mentioned.
Smith warned that it’s not advisable to make the go to to the nation’s capital till February.
“You do not need to go to DC in January,” he mentioned. “The mud is not going to have settled but. They will nonetheless be scraping over committee appointments and shifting of employees amongst committees and amongst private places of work.”
Smith mentioned the preliminary go to might set the stage for federal funds for the passenger rail venture.
The authority has already submitted its curiosity to the Federal Railroad Administration within the Hall Identification Growth Program, which is able to present federal funds for infrastructure initiatives in the US.
Smith mentioned the FRA will make its first report back to Congress on the hall ID program subsequent month.
Official purposes for funding will start in 2023.
Smith additionally mentioned working with U.S. Senator-Elect John Fetterman will likely be essential.
“Remember that Senator Fetterman goes to be a really, crucial card that you must play,” Smith defined. “The administration clearly needs to see his success. Having the time with the senator and his new employees will likely be critically essential to you in order that he can present your message to FRA and Amtrak and DOT.”
The authority’s interim govt director Tom Frawley mentioned he’ll put together calendars for the weeks of Feb. 20 and 27 to find out what conferences would possibly trigger conflicts with a possible go to to Capitol Hill.
The chief committee consists of Frawley, Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz, Montgomery County Commissioner Kenneth Lawrence and Berks County Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach.