[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 202 (Thursday, December 7, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6727-H6728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FRA CORRIDOR ID GRANT

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

[[Page H6728]]

  

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the Federal Railroad 
Administration's selection of the Cleveland-Sandusky-Toledo-Detroit 
corridor for a critical passenger rail grant. What a congested corridor 
it is.
  This Federal funding is but the first step toward expanding passenger 
rail in northern Ohio, which has long suffered from underinvestment in 
rail infrastructure.
  To this day, our region continues to lag daytime passenger service 
due to congested rail service on the same tracks.
  Improving the connection to Detroit will also bolster our region's 
already strong ties with our Michigan and Canadian neighbors on the 
other side of the Great Lake we share, Lake Erie.
  Still, there is so much more to be done. We must find ways to advance 
passenger rail improvements in the Cleveland-Toledo to Chicago 
corridor, which despite the tireless efforts of Grace Gallucci and 
others at the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, was not 
awarded Federal planning funds.
  For our neglected region to be excellent at this planning opportunity 
for efficient passenger rail in view of freight congestion, Federal 
funding is needed to establish a transportation planning center of 
expertise in northwest Ohio.
  Let's not have any more East Palestine or Sandusky accidents. We need 
real rail planning in our region.

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