Quick take
- Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis and state Rep. Neil Riser were elected to the Southern Rail Commission’s executive committee, the City of Monroe said Oct. 21.
- The commission is an interstate group for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama that works on passenger rail.
- The proposed I-20 Corridor line would link the Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta areas, passing through North Louisiana and Mississippi.
- The city says the project finished Step 1 of a Federal Railroad Administration planning program. Louisiana and Mississippi have committed matching money, and the project is waiting on a federal award to start Step 2, a service development plan.
Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis has been elected to the executive committee of the Southern Rail Commission, the City of Monroe announced Wednesday, Oct. 21. State Rep. Neil Riser was also elected to the committee.
The Southern Rail Commission is an interstate group made up of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. It works to expand passenger rail service in the region.
Where the I-20 rail plan stands
The city’s announcement focuses on the proposed I-20 Corridor passenger rail line, which would connect the Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta areas, passing through North Louisiana and Mississippi. According to the city:
- The project has finished Step 1 of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program.
- Step 2 would pay for a detailed service development plan.
- Louisiana and Mississippi have committed the required matching money.
- The project is now waiting on the federal funding award needed to start Step 2.
The city’s announcement doesn’t give a timeline for when trains could run, which stops would be included or what the service would cost.
“The vision has been established. The partnerships have been built. The states have stepped forward. Now we need the federal partners to help us take the next step,” Ellis said in the release.