Donald Trump promised to improve U.S. infrastructure, including railways, but his policy sparked controversies. Reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply, citing Railway Technology.

Donald Trump
Despite announcing large investments during the 2016 campaign, Trump’s relationship with rail has been inconsistent. Credit: NASA HQ PHOTO.

During his presidency, Donald Trump promised significant improvements to the U.S. railway infrastructure. His 2016 campaign included a pledge to allocate $500 billion to the transportation sector, which doubled the amount proposed by his competitor, Hillary Clinton. Although his plans were ambitious, the fulfillment of these promises encountered serious challenges and controversies.

Donald Trump’s Influence on Railway Projects and Funding

In 2017, Trump cut the Department of Transportation’s budget by 13%, impacting Amtrak routes and sparking criticism for reducing support for intercity transportation. The administration viewed these routes as inefficient, given they served only 4.6 million passengers annually and generated losses. Cutting funding was meant to allow Amtrak to focus on more successful routes, improving services in high-demand regions.

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However, faced with political tension, Donald Trump opposed funding the Hudson Tunnel, valued at $30 billion. Reports indicated he persuaded Republican congressmen to withdraw support for the project, which led to a conflict with New York Senator Chuck Schumer. This conflict delayed construction, and the project’s future now hinges on the new president.

Nonetheless, Trump backed the “Cotton Belt” project in Texas, allocating $908 million to modernize the railway corridor. This project will improve access to North Dallas, where traffic congestion often arises. The U.S. Department of Transportation highlighted the importance of such funding for regional agencies actively tackling infrastructure challenges.

In 2019, the state of California sued the federal government after the DOT rescinded funding for a high-speed railway project between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Donald Trump called this project a “green disaster,” igniting heated debates. Meanwhile, the Federal Railroad Administration justified withdrawing support due to insufficient progress on a project that began back in 2010.

In 2020, Trump announced support for railway projects in Arizona, Indiana, and Oregon, granting $300 million to develop transportation systems. These projects included a light rail system in Phoenix and expanded rail lines in Portland and northern Indiana. Trump’s initiatives aimed to improve connectivity between remote areas and central state regions.

September 2020 marked Trump’s approval of the Alaska-Alberta transborder railway corridor, connecting Alaska and Canada. This project was viewed as a step toward regional development and the creation of new jobs.

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