With a subcommittee markup expected on May 21, Politico this week has put the spotlight on the FY2027 DOT spending bill. 

• FRA, specifically, is asking for $2.79 billion in net new budget authority, an increase of 41 percent compared to fiscal 2026. That jump comes with a caveat: The 2021 infrastructure law provided agencies like the FRA with advance appropriations for five years, and that money doesn’t extend into fiscal 2027. The FRA, for example, got $12.9 billion of that type of funding in fiscal 2026 from the Biden-era package. (There were also significant FRA rescissions in fiscal 2026, including some high-speed rail money.)

• The agency is asking for $271 million for its Safety and Operations account; this got $265 million in fiscal 2026.

• Notably, the 2021 infrastructure law also established and funded via advance appropriations — $600 million per year — an FRA grant program focused on boosting safety at highway-rail crossings. The agency wants $98 million for this initiative in fiscal 2027, with an additional $2 million set aside for FRA expenses related to providing financial assistance.

• The agency aims to zero out funding for its Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program; it got $63.7 million in fiscal 2026 and was also supported via advance appropriations from the 2021 infrastructure law.

• And FRA is proposing lower funding for Amtrak, specifically $1.4 billion for National Network grants and $647 million for Northeast Corridor grants, decreases of 8 percent and 24 percent, respectively, compared to fiscal 2026.

FEATURED ARTICLE

Long known for a career improving commuter rail services in 24 states and 12 countries, industry heavyweight David Nelson has passed away.

Driven by a deep intellectual curiosity and passion for the field, Nelson led national Transportation Research Board committees on urban rail transit, commuter rail, and light rail. His professional legacy includes service design for relaunching the Old Colony commuter rail lines and expanding service with new stations on the Fairmount Line. In the course of his career Nelson also spent ten years as a Visiting Professor of Transport and Logistics at le Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers in Paris.

Inspired to find solutions for the 1970's energy crisis, David earned a master's degree in City and Regional Planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. While in the program he met Kay O'Neil, a fellow planning student and his wife-to-be.

Together, David and Kay built a rich life, working in leadership roles with the Boston & Maine Commuter Railroad, the MBTA, and as consultants advising governments on their passenger railroad aspirations.

WHAT WE’RE READING

• DART secures victory in Addison, University Park while Highland Park votes out (TransitTalent)

• Trump’s Penn Station rebuild opens door to unifying New York’s railroads (Gothamist)

• The Case for a Regional Transit Model for Greater L.A. (Streets Blog LA)

• See Metro-North Railroad unveil America 250 locomotive rebrand (lohud)

• MBTA defends $80 world cup train tickets amid south station prep concerns (Boston 25 News)

• USDOT proposes drone restrictions for rail, infrastructure sites (Progressive Railroading)