House Committee calls for new direction for Northeast Corridor.

Press Release Summary:



House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced a plan to bring competition to high-speed and intercity passenger rail service across the country, including the nation's Northeast Corridor. According to John Horsley, executive director of AASHTO, it is in the national interest to develop a passenger rail network as part of a multimodal transportation system. This system must be developed with both public- and private-sector investment.



Original Press Release:



Statement on House Committee's Call for "New Direction" for Northeast Corridor Passenger Rail



Statement from John Horsley on Today's House T&I Committee's Call for "New Direction" for Northeast Corridor Passenger Rail Services

(Washington DC) - House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica, R-Florida and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pennsylvania and Chairman of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, introduced this morning a plan to bring competition to high-speed and intercity passenger rail service across the country, including the nation's Northeast Corridor.

John Horsley, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, reacted with the following statement:

"Our first step will be to check with the Northeast Corridor States to get their reaction to the proposed legislation as well as to ask the states that support state corridors to get their response. AASHTO's policy - affirmed just last month by the chief executive officials of the 50 state departments of transportation - is clear: Federal, state, local, and private-sector investment will be required for the development, maintenance, and operation of high-speed and intercity passenger rail corridors. It is in the national interest to develop a passenger rail network as part of a multimodal transportation system. This system must be developed with both public- and private-sector investment. Although private-sector funding could play a role in the development of the national system, initial funding and system development will require significant investment from the federal government."

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/aashtospeaks.

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