Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Frank Lautenberg

Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Rail Promoter, Announces Retirement

Yesterday afternoon, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, announced that Frank Lautenberg would return as chair of the committee's Surface Transportation, & Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, & Security Subcommittee.

Lautenberg in Hoboken with DOT Secretary Ray LaHood last year. Lautenberg made two announcements today: his plans for the next two years in transportation, and his plans to retire after that. Photo: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/gallery/photodetails/03_19_12.cfm##Office of Sen. Frank Lautenberg##

This afternoon at 2:00 p.m., Lautenberg issued a statement that "improving passenger and high-speed rail service in America and on the Northeast Corridor is a top priority that my Subcommittee will pursue aggressively." That's no surprise to anyone -- Lautenberg is a strong voice for robust infrastructure spending, especially for intercity rail and urban transit.

And then, just about an hour after listing all the wonderful things he is going to do in this session to advance high-speed rail, fund Amtrak, and improve transit, Lautenberg sent another statement: He won't return to the Senate in 2015.

No one will be shocked by this news. Lautenberg just turned 89 years old. He's serving his fifth six-year term in the Senate. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a rock star of local politics, has made no secret of his plan to run for Lautenberg's seat.

In 2008, Lautenberg wrote the law to increase Amtrak funding and create the nation's high-speed rail grant program. In 2011, he got the Northeast Corridor designated as a federally-recognized high-speed rail corridor, which allowed Amtrak to receive $450 million in federal funding for high-speed rail upgrades benefitting New Jersey.

He did battle with his state's governor, Chris Christie, who insisted on stopping progress on the ARC tunnel, which would have more than doubled the number of trains that could have been carried a day between New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River. In this session, he plans to promote the Gateway tunnel project, which is ARC 2.0. He's already helped secure $15 million to get it started, and he's working on getting another $20 million.

Lautenberg championed a freight policy that carries more goods on rail than trucks, helping legislate the eligibility of rail for federal freight funding. He supports complete streets. He and Sen. Rockefeller (who's also retiring after this session) joined forces to get behind President Obama's vision for a National Infrastructure Bank -- an idea that still hasn't gone anywhere, but not for lack of trying. 

Lautenberg's zeal for passenger rail will be missed when he leaves, but at least he's got two more years left as the boss of an important subcommittee for transportation issues. Lautenberg is also still on the Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee -- two more perches from which he can influence transportation policy. We'll be looking to him to make his mark on the rail reauthorization this year and the surface transportation bill next year.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet

The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.

July 14, 2025

These U.S. Communities’ So-Called ‘Complete Streets’ Policies Don’t Even Deserve the Name

Any city can call itself a "Complete Streets" champion. But not all of them are walking the walk — and if they don't, a top organization says they'll no longer give them a platform on its esteemed "best of" ranking.

July 14, 2025

Communities Rally To Reclaim Streets From ICE Terror

"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."

July 11, 2025

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Battle Galactus

Like the Marvel supervillain, U.S. interstate highway system seems to eat up everything in his path. A new book explores how to stop it.

July 11, 2025

New Report Shows Pedestrian Fatalities Drop — But Experts Say Not Enough

The Governors Highway Safety Association report showed a 4 percent drop in the number of pedestrian deaths last year, putting a slow on a dangerous trend — but advocates say the drop isn't nearly big enough.

July 11, 2025
See all posts