News & Events:
Press Releases: 06/18/02
For Immediate Release - June 18, 2002
Contact:
Rick Harnish, Executive Director, Midwest High Speed Rail Association
Office: 773-334-6758 Cell: 312-339-0116
Laura Kliewer, Staff, Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail
Commission
Office: 630-810-0210
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission
focuses on need for strong passenger rail network
On June 18, 2002, members of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail
Commission (MIPRC) met in Washington, DC with key Midwestern US
Senators and Rep representatives to emphasize the important role
that high-quality passenger rail service will play in the country's
future. Members of the commission are appointed by the legislatures
and governors of the member states.
"The need for good rail passenger service has been proven,"
said Rep. Joan Bray, MIPRC chair. "The key to making it happen
is a long-term funding source that will enable the states to expand
services into more communities."
During their meetings with members of Congress the MIPRC commissioners
described the following core principals of their agenda:
A) PROVIDE ENOUGH IMMEDIATE FUNDING TO AVOID TRAIN DISCONTINUANCE.
Given that the demand for expanded rail service is growing, it would
be shortsighted to allow any trains to cease running while work
continues on a new federal policy for intercity passenger rail.
While we recognize that some routes may need to be changed in the
future, cutting routes now would severely constrain the nation‰Û»s
ability to formulate a comprehensive rail plan for the future. The
federal government needs to provide enough funding to allow Amtrak
to continue operating all its trains (system- and state-supported)
until a comprehensive rail plan is developed.
B) SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE FEDERAL RAIL FUNDING.
Three types of funding are required:
1. Short-term maintenance of Amtrak. To insure that no routes
are cut, we support Amtrak's $1.2 billion request, with the caveat
that Amtrak be held accountable to certain performance standards.
2. Medium-term infrastructure funding. Federal investment in
key infrastructure projects will make the system work much
more efficiently within a short period of time. The Midwestern
states, for example, have a solid plan for increasing the
speed and frequency of passenger rail service in nine Midwestern
states. The Midwest Regional
Rail Initiative needs funding to proceed with acquisition
of new trainsets and the ongoing planning of infrastructure
build-outs and improvements. These improvements would (more)
benefit the entire region as first phases of planned overall
improvements to a 3,000-mile passenger rail network in the
Midwest. We support passage of federal legislation such
as the High Speed Rail Investment Act as a way to fund these
projects.
3. Long-term dedicated funding. The highway, aviation and transit
development programs are successful, in large part, because they
have a steady, predictable level of funding that facilitates long
term planning. Passenger rail needs a comparable funding stream
to allow it to reach its transportation potential.
C) UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE U.S. DOT OR ITS DESIGNATED
AGENCY, DEFINE ONE BODY OR AGENCY SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING
AND SETTING THE POLICIES AND FUNCTIONS OF A NATIONAL PASSENGER RAIL
SYSTEM. Currently there is inconsistency within the federal
government regarding federal policy and accountability for passenger
rail. We support the clear delineation of responsibility and accountability
of a national passenger rail system, under the jurisdiction of the
U.S. Department of Transportation or its designated agency of the
U.S. Department of Transportation or its designated agency.
"The commission is not alone in supporting these core principals,"
said Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the Midwest High Speed
Rail Association. "There is growing support for high-quality
rail service. What is missing is a federal funding commitment."
The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI), a group of nine states
and Amtrak that are planning a 3,000 mile network of improved passenger
service in the Midwest, has joined the Commission in supporting
the principals.
"The states are willing to pay their fair share, but need
a reliable funding federal partner to create a program patterned
after the existing and successfu l highway, airport and transit
programs in order to fund the improvements in the MWRRI regional
rail plan," said Randy Wade, manager of passenger rail activities
at the Wisconsin DOT and chair of the MWRRI steering committee.
Groups (and its 245,000 combined members) that have signed on (as
of 6/10/02):
• Citizens for a Better Environment
• Environmental Law & Policy Center of the Midwest
• Illinois Association of Railroad Passengers
• Indiana High Speed Rail Association
• Iowa Association of Rail Passengers
• Greater Rockford Transportation Association
• Michigan Environmental Council
• Michigan Land Use Institute
• Midwest High Speed Rail Association
• Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission
• Midwest Regional Rail Initiative
• National Association of Railroad Passengers
• ProRail Nebraska
• Ohio Association of Railroad Passengers
• United Transportation Union (Midwest members)
See Wisconsin
Association of Railroad Passengers web site for additional information.
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