KEY TAKEAWAYS: The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration will provide $5.81 million to replace five railroad bridges between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The bridges are in St. James and St. Charles parishes. The grant covers project development, final desig n and construction. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said the new bridges will make freight rail safer and could clear the way for passenger rail between the two cities. The Southern Rail Commission has proposed a passenger route linking Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and New Orleans.   The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration will provide $5.81 million to replace five railroad bridges between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, according to a report. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) announced in a news release that the replacement of the aging structures will enable freight rail service to become safer between the cities, while opening a potential passenger rail route. The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program provided funding, per Cassidy. The program has been funded in part by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed Nov. 15, 2021. “This grant brings us one step closer to a passenger rail line between Baton Rouge and New Orleans,” Cassidy said in the announcement. “It will also make our rail lines safer for freight trains. This is a win for Louisiana.” The grant will support project development, final design and construction to replace bridges in St. James and St. Charles parishes, according to DOT. As noted in the release, Cassidy mentioned the Southern Rail Commission has proposed a passenger rail route connecting Baton Rouge, Gonzales, LaPlace, the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and New Orleans. ...read more read less