>> The Business Alliance sent letters to Congressional Appropriators this week urging them to increase funding for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program in FY 2012 and fully fund Amtrak's annual request.
This week, the Business Alliance sent letters to the House and Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittees, as well as the entire Northeast Congressional delegation requesting appropriations of $2.5 billion for the FRA's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program and $2.2 billion for Amtrak to fully support their annual funding request in the fiscal year 2012 budget. The HSIPR Program and Amtrak are funding critical state of good repair projects in the NEC and creating thousands of jobs. It is estimated that every $1 billion invested in rail supports more than 24,000 jobs.
"The HSIPR Program provides funding for vital rail projects that are a strong and welcome source of jobs," the Business Alliance writes. "In addition to creating short-term jobs in construction and long-term jobs in maintenance and operations, investments in high-speed and intercity rail increase worker productivity and promote economic growth and development in our cities and metropolitan areas." ... "Ongoing support for Amtrak's existing rail operations is [also] critical to the prosperity of the region. Of Amtrak's $2.2 billion request, $1.25 billion is dedicated to capital projects, with the majority headed to the NEC, where capital investments are urgently needed."
Image via DOT's Fast Lane Blog
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