Monroe City Council moves forward with possible funding for intercity passenger rail

Travelers in North Louisiana may be one small step closer to resuming passenger rail service in Monroe.

The Monroe City Council approved a resolution authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement to seek grant funding from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program for the development of an intercity passenger rail service at Tuesday's night meeting.

The development of an intercity passenger rail service connecting the I-20 corridor through Monroe, Ruston, Shreveport and Vicksburg, Mississippi, is being proposed.

The council approved a resolution in March 2022 supporting the development of an Amtrak high-speed rail line that would run from Fort Worth, Texas through the city to Atlanta, George connecting more than 14 million residents throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia.

Ellis will collaborate with Mayors Ronny Walker of Ruston, Tom Arceneaux of Shreveport and George Flaggs of Vicksburg on applying for a Federal-State Partnership grant for station improvements.

The Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program provides funding for capital projects that reduces the state of good repair backlog, improves performance, or expands or establishes new intercity passenger rail service, including private operated intercity passenger rail service, if an eligible applicant is involved.

Knox Ross, chairman of the Southern Rail Commission, said there is a unique opportunity for the development of the rail due to the recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Ross said the support of the legislation by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), puts the two states in a unique position where people are willing to work together to see it completed.

"This is a great opportunity for us all," Ross said. "We stand ready to work with the city and all of the cities of Northeast Louisiana to see this done, and we encourage you to participate in it and work forward for a better North Louisiana. It's a real opportunity for us."

Ellis said what is unique about the possible funding opportunity is that the four cities' train stations will be located in their historic downtowns which will bring economic development to the area. Ellis said the passenger rail service could ultimately benefit the regional universities, as well as neighboring universities in Shreveport and Vicksburg.

Follow Ian Robinson on Twitter @_irobinsonand on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3vln0w1.

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This article originally appeared on Monroe News-Star: Intercity passenger rail possibility coming to Monroe