Unified Backing for Amtrak’s Return to Mobile Amid $550 Million I-10 Bridge Grant
Discover how a $550 million grant for the I-10 bridge project led to unanimous support from the Mobile City Council for Amtrak’s return to the Gulf Coast, transforming previous opposition into collective backing.
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Council Member Joel Daves' Transformation from Opposition to Support for Amtrak’s Gulf Coast Comeback
Joel Daves, once the lone dissenting voice on the Mobile City Council, voted against a $3.048 million, three-year funding agreement to facilitate Amtrak’s return to the Gulf Coast. His stance, four years and six months ago, was firm, driven by concerns over potential disruptions to the Port of Mobile’s rail operations.
Daves’ opposition was vocal and persistent. He labeled the Amtrak route as a “joyride for the affluent” and expressed his criticisms in prominent publications like The New York Times. He even testified before the U.S. Surface Transportation Board to argue against the project.
However, a significant development led to a unanimous shift in support for Amtrak’s return to Mobile. The allocation of a $550 million grant for the I-10 bridge project created a ripple effect, leading to collective backing from the council. This grant, aimed at improving transportation infrastructure, played a pivotal role in altering the dynamics and fostering a united front for Amtrak’s reintroduction to the region.
