The Senate is poised to clear legislation Wednesday evening to reauthorize Amtrak for the first time since 1997 and renew rail safety programs, CQ Politics reports.

[Update 1: H.R. 2095 passed in the Senate and will move onto the White House for President Bush’s signature]

[Update 2: CQ Politics has reported that President Bush has agreed to sign the package. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking Republican ranking John L. Mica says he is now trying to convince Bush to sign the bill quickly so that it will be the Republican administration overseeing request for proposals from private companies for the development of high speed rail.]

>>More on trains at Green Options

The bill, an amended rail safety measure, authorizes significant new funding for Amtrak at $5.3 billion in capital grants, $2.9 billion in operating grants and $1.9 billion for intercity passenger rail over five years.

The House approved the final version on Sept. 24.

The legislation would also toughen rail safety programs, including mandating rail companies to equip their cars with sensors to help avoid crashes (a provision that gained new-found support following the train collision that killed 25 people in California last month).

The Bush administration threatened to veto the Amtrak bill that the House passed back in June, but has yet to comment on the measure now being considered by the Senate.

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