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Advocates for Environment, Freight and Passenger Rail and Transportation Reform Unite to Promote Rail Investment

Posted on: Thursday, 15 January 2009, 12:02 CST

OneRail Coalition Encourages Transportation Policies that Increase Mobility, Reduce Emissions, Promote Economic Growth

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two days before President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden arrive here by train for their inauguration, environmental, freight and passenger rail groups have come together with reform-minded transportation experts to form a coalition that will advance rail programs. The coalition will encourage public policies recognizing rail as a critical element of the national transportation system and an essential part of the future economic growth and environmental well-being of the nation.

The group, called the OneRail Coalition, brings passenger and freight rail stakeholders together for the first time. Members include American Public Transportation Association, Amtrak, American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association, Association of American Railroads, Building America's Future, National Association of Railroad Passengers, Natural Resources Defense Council, Railway Supply Institute, States for Passenger Rail Coalition, and Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. According to the group, public policies that support both freight and passenger rail objectives are needed to maximize transportation options that enhance mobility, achieve energy efficiency, address climate change, boost economic growth and improve quality of life for all Americans.

"Rail must be an essential component of any national infrastructure investment initiative," said Anne Canby, President, Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. "Rail provides a solution for many of our most urgent transportation, energy and environmental problems."

"As we look to increase recovery and sustain economic growth, we ask that Congress and the administration focus investment on our U.S. rail system. That focus can help de-congest choke points, put more freight and passengers on fuel-efficient trains, and lower our nation's greenhouse gas emissions," said Frank Busalacchi, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Chairman, States for Passenger Rail Coalition and a member of the 2008 National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

The energy and environmental benefits of rail are significant. Expanding passenger train options between and into U.S. urban centers would substantially reduce highway congestion, fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing intermodal freight shipments on rail also can reduce greenhouse gas emissions; every ton mile of freight that moves by rail instead of long-haul truck reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least two-thirds. A coordinated approach of rail and truck shipping is already showing substantial efficiencies and net reductions in potential carbon emissions.

"Our nation's surface transportation infrastructure should strive to provide interconnectivity and be environmentally sound," said Amtrak President Joseph Boardman. "Increasing investment in rail -- both passenger and freight -- is a critical step toward achieving this goal."

The OneRail Coalition seeks to bridge the goals of expanding intercity and commuter passenger and rail options across the country and the need to ensure the capacity, safety and integrity of the nation's freight rail network. The group points to the findings of the 2008 National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission as part of the impetus to come together now.

"The Commission's findings were clear," said Edward Hamberger, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads. "Increased investment in railroad infrastructure is essential to our continued mobility, economic competitiveness, and ability to create jobs, as well as to meeting the energy and climate challenges of the 21st century."

Matthew Rose, Chairman, President and CEO of BNSF Railway and a member of the Commission, agreed. "It is essential that all parties work together to ensure the Commission's recommendations are acted upon and that all Americans experience the benefits that increased investment in rail infrastructure will bring."

OneRail's objectives include:

• Expand and strengthen the nation's passenger train network by encouraging the development of commuter and intercity passenger train options for all Americans and addressing a critical missing link in our nation's surface transportation system. Needed solutions must ensure safety, achieve reasonable service levels, and provide enough capacity to protect the operations and future growth of both rail freight and passenger service.

• Enact policies and programs that expand public and private investment in rail freight mobility. This includes encouraging continued private investment in rail freight capacity to ensure that rail freight capacity will meet growing demand and public investment when that investment supports appropriate public benefits.

• Support state efforts to seek an ongoing, dedicated funding source for intercity passenger rail expansion. This includes designing a federal-state partnership and cost sharing agreements similar to those that built the nation's federal-aid highways and transit systems.

The group is immediately focused on the economic stimulus and recovery legislation under development, but will be active on other legislative fronts in 2009. These include the next surface transportation authorization, and energy and climate legislation.

"Rail should be a key element of any federal response to climate concerns," said Natural Resources Defense Council Executive Director Peter Lehner. "Improving surface transportation offers both immediate and long-term benefits by decreasing traffic congestion, helping to mitigate rising energy costs and reducing emissions related to global warming. We hope Congress will move quickly on these critical issues."

"The formation of the OneRail Coalition will enable the rail industry to speak with one voice to federal, state and local policymakers and overcome years of serious public underinvestment in our nation's rail network," said Polly Trottenberg, Executive Director, Building America's Future (BAF), an infrastructure initiative organized by Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

"Trends all point to a robust future for railroads -- passenger and freight," William W. Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association said. "America's railroad community can gain strength with increased investment and through partnership, working together and growing together to serve America in the years ahead."

The OneRail Principles are available at www.transact.org

The American Public Transportation Association: APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; commuter and passenger railroads; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions; and state associations and departments of transportation.

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) is a non-profit trade association that represents the interests of its more than 400 short line and regional railroad members in legislative and regulatory matters. Short line and regional railroads are an important and growing component of the railroad industry. Today, they operate and maintain 29 percent of the American railroad industry's route mileage, and account for 9 percent of the rail industry's freight revenue and 11 percent of railroad employment.

Amtrak has posted six consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit Amtrak.com.

Association of American Railroads (AAR) is the world's leading railroad policy, research and technology organization focusing on the safety and productivity of rail carriers. Its members include the leading freight railroads in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as Amtrak and other passenger lines.

Building America's Future (www.InvestInInfrastructure.org) is a bipartisan and non?profit organization dedicated to bringing about a new era of U.S. investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation's prosperity and quality of life. Comprised of state and locally elected officials from around the nation, Building America's Future seeks to advance a new national vision for infrastructure investment that focuses on economic growth and global competitiveness, creation of economic opportunity for all Americans, and environmental sustainability.

National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) is the largest, citizen-based advocacy organization for train and rail transit passengers. Founded in 1967, the Association -- with about 24,000 individual members -- works to expand the quality and quantity of U.S. passenger train service. The organization's mission "is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want."

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

The Railway Supply Institute, Inc is an international association of the railway and rail rapid transit supply industry that represents over 250 rail suppliers. RSI works to promote the needs of the railway supply industry and its customers through working with Congress, regulatory agencies, state governments, and other rail transportation related organizations.

The States for Passenger Rail Coalition, established in early 2000, is an alliance of state departments of transportation that supports intercity passenger rail initiatives and advocates for federal funding.

The Surface Transportation Policy Partnership is a diverse, nationwide coalition working to ensure safer communities and smarter transportation choices that enhance the economy, improve public health, promote social equity, and protect the environment.

SOURCE OneRail Coalition

Source: PR Newswire

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