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Approved Rail Legislation Puts Region on New Track For the first time in more than a decade, the Amtrak reauthorization bill (HR 2095) has been signed into law, which authorizes increased funding to support more reliable, frequent and higher speed rail service. The bill enables Amtrak to receive $13 billion over five years in subsidies with annual congressional funding approval. The new legislation represents a tremendous victory for Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Greater Philadelphia Region. It is important to note that the region's bi-partisan Congressional delegation, led by U.S. Senators Specter, Lautenberg and Carper, were instrumental in getting this legislation passed. House members Gerlach and Shuster, regional members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee that governs Amtrak, also provided key support for passage in the House. One of the key competitive advantages is the region's easy access by train to the nation's financial capital in New York and its political capital in Washington . The CEO Council for Growth has worked diligently over the past several years leading congressional lobbying efforts for increased multi-year funding to improve key rail infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor. The Philadelphia , Trenton and Wilmington Amtrak stations all represent a critically important component of Greater Philadelphia's attractiveness as a premier business location. More than 750,000 commuters and intercity passengers depend on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor service each day with many of those passengers traveling to, through and from these stations. Amtrak ridership has reached an all-time high (25.8 million nationally) and continues to rise, as more and more business travelers turn to it. This new funding will help to sustain the rail system, as well as protect and promote jobs and commerce, helping to make the Northeast Corridor the first-class railroad corridor the nation needs. |
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