HOUSE COMMITTEE CLEARS FUNDING BILL FOR SMALL RAILROADS

HOUSE COMMITTEE CLEARS FUNDING BILL FOR SMALL RAILROADS    The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has cleared legislation for action by the full House, providing $350 million per year for fiscal years 2002 through 2004 to upgrade tracks and other infrastructure needs of the nation’s Class II railroads.
   The funds are earmarked to upgrade the roadbed of smaller railroads to accommodate newer and heavier 286,000-pound rail cars, which are now the industry standard for the large, Class I railroads.
   Absent the funding, the nation would be faced with a national rail network where the same fleet of cars could not be used on the entire system, said Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., who chairs the House Railroad Subcommittee.
   The legislation is not expected to come up for a full House vote until after the Memorial Day recess in early June, at the earliest.