Biden’s infrastructure plan: what’s inside the new $ 2 trillion bill?
The White House is comparing President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal to the construction of interstate highways and the space race.
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President Joe Biden launched an American Employment Plan that includes plans for investment in infrastructure, economic recovery, climate change, social equality and $ 80 billion for rail transport.
Las Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix and more: Amtrak would expand, connect new cities under Joe Biden’s infrastructure plan
Amtrak subsequently launched its 2035 vision plan, which includes an additional route that runs through Greenville to Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Birmingham, Alabama.
Here’s what we know:
- The new line would go from Charlotte to Greenville to Atlanta to Birmingham, adding travel frequency to an Amtrak line that already passes through Greenville.
- The plan is expected to be completed in 2035, although Amtrak expects it to be completed sooner.
- The current train station on Washington Street is owned by Norfolk Southern, and Amtrak only rents an office for its current line, according to Greenville Mayor Knox White.
- More information about the station’s development and ticket costs will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Amtrak public relations manager Kimberly Woods.
- “I think that from the point of view of economic development and just quality of lifestyle, having a more frequent service to Atlanta and beyond can become something monumental,” said Mayor White. “I think it’s a really big step forward.”
- The new plan does not include an additional route through South Carolina that connects Greenville, Columbia and Charleston, and some in the state have regretted this.
- Amtrak officials expect Congress to provide $ 80 billion designated for railroads in the Biden American Employment Plan, announced on Wednesday.
- The vision plan would add at least 30 new routes and add more trips to at least 20 existing routes.
- “Amtrak has a bold vision to bring world-class, energy-efficient intercity rail services to up to 160 new communities across the country, as we also invest in our fleet and stations in the United States,” said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn, in a statement.
- Amtrak served 32 million passengers in the United States in fiscal year 2019 and expects the vision plan to add another 20 million.
Come back to learn more about this development story.
Genna Contino covers affordable housing and gentrification for The Greenville News. Contact Genna at [email protected] or Twitter @GennaContino. Subscribe to The Greenville News at greenvillenews.com/subscribe.