Sens. Carper, Coons Urge Administration to Redirect Florida’s Rejected High-Speed Rail Funds to Northeast Corridor

WASHINGTON – Today, Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.), along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Barbara A. Milkulski (D-Md.), wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to request that the $2.4 billion in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program funds rejected by the State of Florida be redirected to high-speed rail projects on the Northeast Corridor. Secretary LaHood has stated that a new sponsor for the funds in Florida must be identified before March 4, 2011 or the funds will be redistributed to other states. The Senators noted that while the Northeast Corridor accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product and twenty percent of the nation’s population and has the nation’s only operating high-speed train, to date it has received less than two percent of the $10.5 billion provided by Congress for the High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

“In order to ensure that our economy recovers in the short term and prospers in the long term, we must invest wisely and prudently, such as in our nation’s transportation infrastructure,” said Sen. Carper. “By redirecting these funds to the Northeast Corridor, the Administration will get a better bang for taxpayers’ buck. Passenger rail creates jobs, improves air quality, eases congestion and reduces our dependence on foreign oil—it is a wise investment all around, and one that would benefit the State of Delaware. The funds could be used to finance the construction of a new train station in Newark as well as a third track between Wilmington and Newark, which would extend SEPTA trains to Newark and ease congestion for Amtrak. This investment in the Northeast Corridor’s passenger rail system would mean more access and faster service for all Delawareans.”

“High-speed rail is an important part of the economy not only here in Delaware but up and down the Northeast Corridor,” said Sen. Coons. “In addition to reducing congestion on our roads, high-speed rail makes the cities and states it serves more appealing to businesses looking to open new facilities and put more people to work. If Florida isn’t interested in this funding, I’m certain that it can be put to good use up here in Delaware.”

A copy of the letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation follows:

February 25, 2011

The Honorable Ray LaHood

Secretary

U.S. Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary LaHood,

In light of the State of Florida’s decision to reject $2.4 billion in High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program funds, we urge you to reprogram these funds to projects on the Northeast Corridor. Our states are ready to put these funds to good use to improve our existing high speed rail service, reduce congestion, and create jobs.

As you know, the Northeast Corridor is critically important to our nation’s transportation infrastructure. The region served by the Corridor accounts for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s gross domestic product and twenty percent of our nation’s population. More than 250 million rail passengers use the Corridor annually and the Acela Express has built the foundation for high-speed rail service throughout the country. In a recent report, America 2050 rated the Northeast Corridor as the region with the greatest potential to attract high-speed rail ridership in the United States.

Improving passenger rail service on the Northeast Corridor is necessary to accommodate the sixty percent increase in passengers expected by 2030 and will alleviate severe congestion on the region’s highways and airspace. At a time when numerous states have rejected federal funding from the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program, we note that high-speed rail’s potential on the Northeast Corridor is proven. For example, ridership on the Acela Express has risen six hundred percent during its nine years of service.

Although the Northeast Corridor has the only operating high-speed train in the country, the Corridor has received less than two percent of the $10.5 billion provided by Congress for the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program to date. We believe that this is an insufficient investment in the Northeast Corridor, given our region’s position as a population and economic mega-region.

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Tom Carper

John F. Kerry

Joseph I. Lieberman

Richard Blumenthal

Kirsten E. Gillibrand

Frank R. Lautenberg

Robert Menendez

Christopher A. Coons

Barbara A. Milkulski

Benjamin L. Cardin