Mississippi News
Gulf Coast railway hearing underway
Gulf Coast railway hearing underway as future of passenger route remains unclear
U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker kicked off what would be more than 70 speakers testifying over the disputed Gulf Coast passenger route before a federal board on Tuesday.
“Restoration of this vital service is long overdue,” Wicker told the Surface Transportation Board over Zoom. “The impact of Hurricane Katria is still being felt … one of the victims that remains is passenger rail across the Gulf Coast.”
The board is tasked with deciding the future of a public train route that would run between Mobile and New Orleans, with four stops in Mississippi. Passenger train stops on the Gulf Coast were never restored following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, although the freight rail companies that own the affected tracks long ago repaired and replaced them.
After years of debate over use of the railways and attempts to create a plan, Amtrak filed a complaint with the transportation board asking its members to mediate and make a decision about the future of the proposed route.
Members of the Southern Rail Commission, which conducted feasibility studies as the region's champion for railways, have long accused freight company CSX of stonewalling any progress.
Typically private rail companies and Amtrak reach use agreements outside of the courtroom-style hearings.
Testimonies regarding the route during Tuesday's hearing came primarily from Alabama and Mississippi officials but also included leaders from as far as Pennsylvania and Oregon.
“The board's decision will have far implications beyond the Gulf Coast,” Amit Bose, the administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration in the Department of Transportation, said during his testimony. “We believe it's imperative that host railroads fulfill their fundamental statutory obligations to allow the expansion and improvement of intercity rail services.”
The railroad industry at large is watching the case closely, as it could set precedent for the future of passenger rail expansion across the country.
Despite Bose and DOT's support of the Gulf Coast route, Alabama leaders have largely sided with freight rail companies that have said more studies are needed to test the capacity of the tracks.
Passenger railroad advocates have called this a strategy of death by delay. CSX, the main company involved, says it isn't opposed to a new route as long as it doesn't negatively impact freight – also but says more studies are needed to conclude that.
Alabama officials, like Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, testified concerns that the country's existing supply chain issues could be worsened by added train traffic. Alabama relies on freight companies' use of the Port of Mobile as an economic boon.
Amtrak's proposed route would stretch over 200 miles and have two trains running round trips — once in the morning and once in the evening. All but about 50 miles of that route runs through Mississippi with stops in Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula.
Amtrak made its filing with the transportation board in March 2021. Next month – a full year later – the board will hold what it called an evidentiary hearing, which will give Amtrak and CSX a chance to make their cases before the board reaches a decision.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
Warming trend for Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV
SUMMARY: The weather in Columbus, Mississippi will be cold in the mornings but warm up in the afternoons for the Easter weekend. Thursday will be sunny with highs in the 60s, dropping to the 30s at night with patchy frost. Friday will have highs in the 70s, and the weekend will be even warmer with temperatures in the 80s and no rain expected. Next week will see warm and humid air with the possibility of scattered showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday. It is still unsure if the storms will be severe.
The post Warming trend for Easter weekend – Home – WCBI TV appeared first on www.wcbi.com
Mississippi News
Two Rankin County teens arrested for shooting death of 14-year-old in Jackson
SUMMARY: Two teenagers from Rankin County, Maxle Mooneyham, 16, and John Foote, 17, were arrested in connection to the shooting death of 14-year-old Cameron Horne-Crook in Jackson. The suspects were charged with murder and were assisted in their arrest by Rankin County deputies and Pearl police. Horne-Crook was shot multiple times on March 25 in the 3500 block of Ridgecrest Drive. He was a student at Northwest Rankin Middle School. The names of the suspects were corrected by Jackson police in an updated announcement.
The post Two Rankin County teens arrested for shooting death of 14-year-old in Jackson appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Blending past, future: Redeveloping Burns Bottom
SUMMARY: The Burns Bottom neighborhood in Columbus, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is being considered for redevelopment by the Columbus Redevelopment Authority. The plan is to develop the area into a mix of commercial buildings, residential homes, and apartment spaces to meet the needs of the community, including workers from the air base and industrial sectors. The project aims to tie together different parts of Columbus, including the Riverwalk and downtown area. A public meeting will be held on March 28 to discuss funding for the project. The CRA believes this redevelopment will bring new life to the neighborhood and benefit the entire community.
The post Blending past, future: Redeveloping Burns Bottom appeared first on www.wcbi.com
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