What Railroad Tracks Mean in the U.S. and Abroad
For over half a century, America has long prioritized roads over rail, with only 11% of transportation funding going to rail in 2019, a stark contrast to regions like Europe where, on average, 42% of their budget goes to rail. Even with recent initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, highway funding in the US still triples that of rail. Rail fatalities in the U.S. are also high — 95% of deaths are largely preventable since they are due to trespassing. Addressing these safety gaps, alongside increasing rail funding could enhance safety and efficiency.
