Biden's "Second Great Railroad Revolution": Infrastructure

As noted in Part 1 and Part 2, during the presidential campaign, candidate Joe Biden called for "Sparking the second great railroad revolution." Biden pledged to "make sure that America has the cleanest, safest, and fastest rail system in the world – for both passengers and freight."

Infrastructure spending, the focus of Part 3, is an issue that often transcends political differences. The Biden campaign's stated interest in rail suggests that there could be extensive interest in so-called "public-private partnerships." In these initiatives, the federal government funds private investment that will have mixed public and private benefits, with the private entity (and sometimes local or state governments) contributing as well. The Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program could be a major beneficiary of such investment. Chicago is the nation's busiest freight rail hub, and the need for expanded commuter capacity is well