MOBILE — The Mobile City Council unanimously approved resolutions that could bring the possibility of Gulf Coast Amtrak service back to the area.
The City will contribute no more than $3.048 million over three years, beginning in 2025. The council approved an agreement with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.
The Alabama Port Authority will contribute $1 million over three years. An intergovernmental agreement on the matter was also approved.
Councilman Joel Daves said he has grave financial concerns about bringing a passenger rail service back to Mobile. However, he said he supports anything good for the Port of Mobile, so he supports the measures taken.
The third resolution, a lease agreement between the City and the railroad service for certain property to "construct, use, maintain, operate, inspect, repair, replace and review layover tracks, crew facilities and passenger boarding platform improvements" was also approved.
Stimpson said securing an agreement with the State could take longer, but he hopes Alabama will also contribute $1 million.
After three years, all agreements will have to be re-evaluated.
Along with the Amtrak deal, several other projects will impact the city’s economy. These include the airport project, the I-10 Bridge and Bayway Project and the widening and deepening of the Port of Mobile.
"I would like to say downtown Mobile feels like it's about to be hot and popping. We're able to take a cruise ship from downtown Mobile," said Council president CJ Small. "We're about to get ready to take a train from downtown Mobile and the next year or so we're going to be flying from downtown Mobile. So, great things are going on in the city of Mobile, and I'm very excited to be a citizen here in Mobile."
Small's comment was followed by applause from the council chamber and the unanimous approval of the resolutions.
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