Working in consultation with the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission created in Section 57-45-1 and the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Department of Transportation shall promote passenger rail travel and service in the state and make recommendations for specific projects related to the construction, rehabilitation, maintenance, and improvement of the state’s passenger rail infrastructure, which shall include, but are not limited to, the following aspects:
Insuring compatibility for a project or projects with opportunities for the state to obtain federal funding assistance that may be available for high-speed passenger rail service, which includes, but is not limited to, intercity passenger rail service that is capable of reaching speeds of one hundred ten (110) miles per hour; and
Considering projects that create a series of corridor route rail segments with passenger service areas that are smaller than long-distance passenger trains and seek to connect major city pairs, in order to provide improved service at peak travel times and a higher frequency of trains.