It’s time for the Northeast Corridor to lead the ‘second great railroad revolution’
Augt 26, 2021
Philadelphia Inquirer
Excerpt
As former bipartisan governors of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, we fully support President Joe Biden’s ambition to “spark the second great railroad revolution.” The acute need for a modern transportation infrastructure in the United States capable of meeting the challenges of climate change and congestion is no better exemplified than in the Northeast Corridor — a region we know well. The corridor’s population is projected to grow by more than 12 million residents by 2040, yet the region is already straining under antiquated transportation systems only set to become worse without visionary change.
We’re not alone. In a recent op-ed, three former bipartisan U.S. secretaries of transportation wrote that “high-speed rail is the single most effective way to move America’s transportation system into the 21st century” and that it “is the most powerful strategy to dramatically reduce climate pollution while reducing traffic congestion and improving intercity travel.”
President Biden and his leadership team at the Department of Transportation have already hit the ground running by completing the federal review of previously stalled rail projects. Congressional committee chairs Tom Carper, Maria Cantwell, and Peter DeFazio are prioritizing investment in rail including $66 billion in the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill. DOT is also working to create a passenger rail trust fund, in line with what’s already enjoyed by other transportation modes like highways and airports.
More :
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/com...-20210826.html