High-Speed Rail Rides Into Congress

By Courtney Costello-Talk Radio News Service

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell testified Tuesday on the urgent need for high-speed rail in America.

Governor Rendell’s testimonies were heard before The Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security.

Chairman of the Subcommittee Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) listened to testimonies from an expert panel on the issue that included Amtrak President Joseph Boardman, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Joseph Szabo, Texas High Speed Rail and Transportation Chairman Robert Eckels, Government Accountability Office Official Susan Fleming and National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commissioner Tom Skancke.

“We must push for a comprehensive network of true high speed rail…Such a network will be a catalyst for growth and development,” said Gov. Rendell. “It will better connect Americans as our population continues to grow as well as reduce carbon emissions and improve quality of life.”

The panel all agreed that establishing high-speed rail in America is contingent upon
improving existing railways like the Amtrak Acela, creating city to city high-speed rails, and inter-city rails.

Members of the panel testified that the creation of high-speed railways would be funded by federal and state governments, as well as private investments. In addition, Gov. Rendell proposed the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank.

The panel testified that an investment in existing and new railways would help grow the economy.

“High-speed rail will create jobs for our citizens and orders for American factories, especially in some of the hardest hit parts of our country, where there is tremendous manufacturing capacity to build rail cars, tracks and equipment using American concrete and steel,” said Rendell.