Rail Industry Gets Boost From Buttigieg on Creating Trust Fund

New ways of funding rail transportation are getting a boost from advocates, Democratic lawmakers, and the U.S. transportation chief as part of the debate over the forthcoming infrastructure package.

The freight rail industry ramped up its push for dedicated funding Monday with a proposal from the Association of American Railroads that includes new fees on vehicles. Passenger rail advocates have also been calling for Congress to provide more predictable funding.

The lobbying comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg floated the possibility of Congress creating a dedicated trust fund for rail.

“The problem with the national railway trust fund, of course, ...