Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the senior Northeastern Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced the Freight Rail Economic Development Act of 2012, which would provide capital grants for freight rail economic development projects around the country.  These capital grants would fund the construction or rehabilitation of rail switches and sidings in parts of the country with insufficient or underutilized freight rail infrastructure.  The goal of these grants is to restore and renew economic development opportunities in places hardest hit by economic recession.

“The Freight Rail Economic Development Act will be a boon to areas of the country that have been struggling to keep and attract economic development during these rough economic times,” said Rep. Nadler.  “Depressed economies, like those we have in upstate New York and many other industrialized parts of the Northeast, would benefit greatly from an improved and expanded freight rail infrastructure.  New switches and sidings could mean new jobs and opportunities for regions working to bring in investment.”

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