OneRail Coalition Calls on Congress to Increase Funding for Investment in Rail

Washington, D.C. September 25, 2009 - In a letter to key congressional appropriators, the OneRail coalition expressed strong support for funding programs that will move more people and goods by rail. Noting that freight and passenger rail infrastructure improvements offer significant environmental, energy and mobility benefits, and will create good jobs for American workers particularly in states which have experienced losses in other sectors, the coalition calls for the maximum allocation in FY 2010 for rail grant programs including $4 billion for HSIPR and the full authorized level for Amtrak. OneRail also urges continued funding for national transportation infrastructure investments ($1.1 billion for the TIGER program successor) and assuring rail eligibility for general fund transportation investments.