CEO Council for Growth Chairman Urges Support for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor in Testimony Before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee

Mark Schweiker, Chairman of the CEO Council for Growth, and President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, testified at a recent hearing on the “Benefits of Intercity Passenger Rail” held by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Philadelphia business community, Mr. Schweiker stressed the importance of dedicated, stable federal funding for long-term improvements and proper maintenance of the Northeast Corridor rail line. This was one of four hearings being convened this summer by the Railroads Subcommittee. These hearings will determine the direction and content of legislation drafted by the Subcommittee to reauthorize Amtrak and will serve as companion legislation to the Lautenberg-Lott measure recently passed by the Senate Commerce committee. Congress last passed legislation authorizing Amtrak in 1997.

“For the Northeast region to continue to grow and thrive, we need a real commitment to the future of the Corridor and a state-federal partnership to secure the funds necessary to continue to develop the premier rail corridor in North America,” said Mr. Schweiker at the hearing.

Mr. Schweiker highlighted the CEO Council for Growth’s vision to make Greater Philadelphia one of the nation’s top business locations and discussed how an enhanced federal commitment to the Northeast Corridor is central to the future economic growth of the region. Specifically, Mr. Schweiker outlined the top four priorities for the committee to consider when developing the reauthorization proposal. These priorities include:

1. Finding a secure source of funding for intercity passenger rail;
2. Defining “state of good repair” and provide the funding to achieve it;
3. Improving the trip time on the Northeast Corridor; and
4. Requiring Amtrak to work with the states and the commuter railroads along the Northeast Corridor to develop a plan to increase the capacity of the Corridor.

Mr. Schweiker added the following comments as part of his testimony: “Greater Philadelphia has three significant Amtrak stations in Philadelphia, Wilmington and Trenton. Over 3.5 million Amtrak passengers used Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station in 2006. The top two destinations from Philadelphia, Trenton and Wilmington are New York City, followed by Washington, DC.”

“In fact, when it comes to attracting new businesses and a highly skilled workforce, our region’s easy access by train to the nation’s financial capital in New York and its political capital in Washington is one of our primary competitive advantages.”

“The Greater Philadelphia region would not be as competitive without Amtrak’s intercity service and can not meet our future goals for economic growth without continued and improved Amtrak service. The quality of Amtrak’s infrastructure is critical for the operation of our regional transit systems, with 50 percent of SEPTA commuter trains and 60 percent of New Jersey Transit trains dependent on Amtrak’s tracks and signal systems.”

“With shared commitment and vision, the Northeast Corridor can be the first class railroad corridor that the nation needs. I am here today to offer the support of the Greater Philadelphia region’s business community.”

CEO Council Supports US Airways’ Bid For Direct Route To China

US Airways recently announced that it has applied for the rights to provide year-round, daily, nonstop service from Philadelphia to Beijing, China beginning in March, 2009. This flight route would be the first step in starting service from Philadelphia to other points in Asia. The CEO Council for Growth supports this application and welcomes the anticipated economic benefit to the region.

The CEO Council for Growth

The CEO Council for Growth (CEO Council) is a group of prominent business executives committed to growth and prosperity in the 11-county region across northern Delaware, southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. Through high-impact initiatives that lead to high-wage jobs, new business opportunities, and wealth creation, the CEO Council offers a focused, consistent and invigorating approach that sets the regional growth agenda. Its vision is that Greater Philadelphia will be one of the nation’s top business locations by 2010.