Onerail Coalition Calls on Congress to Invest in Rail as Part of Balanced Approach to Meet Climate, Energy Challenges

Washington, D.C. June 4, 2009 - The OneRail Coalition urges House lawmakers to incorporate investment in passenger and freight rail into the surface transportation legislation currently being drafted to ensure a balanced approach to addressing our nation’s surface transportation challenges.

In a letter to Chairman James L. Oberstar and Ranking Member John L. Mica of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (http://transact.org/onerail/), the OneRail Coalition suggests that rail should play an important role in helping the nation to enhance mobility, achieve energy efficiency, reduce climate related emissions, boost economic growth and improve quality of life for all Americans.

The members of OneRail believe that the surface authorization legislation now being considered offers a major opportunity to incorporate rail into our national transportation system. To raise the role of rail in our transportation system, OneRail members urge lawmakers to:

(1) Make rail passenger and freight infrastructure projects eligible expenditures to the degree that general fund revenues are the source for the federal surface transportation program. The President’s FY 2010 budget recognizes the possibility that substantial funds will be necessary to maintain highway and transit expenditures at current levels. Eligibility for freight and passenger rail infrastructure for general funds allocated through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides sound precedent for a broader, outcome-oriented approach to surface transportation investment.

(2) As part of any restructuring of the surface transportation program, establish an ongoing, dedicated funding source for intercity passenger rail expansion, including high-speed rail. “OneRail members believe the forthcoming surface transportation authorization can be transformative. We look forward to working with lawmakers in the House and Senate to expand the role of both freight and passenger rail in our nation’s transportation system,” said Anne Canby, President of the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership and OneRail coalition member.

As the House moves forward with climate change legislation and discussions with the Senate proceed, the Coalition also asks that transportation investment be considered as part of this important national discussion. Ultimately, an allocation of revenues anticipated from climate change initiatives could help support an outcome-oriented transportation program focused on modes that will lower carbon emissions and conserve energy - including rail.

The OneRail coalition brings passenger and freight stakeholders together for the first time. OneRail was organized to educate decision-makers at the federal, state, and local levels about the benefits of rail transportation and to promote investment in both freight and passenger rail infrastructure. The goal of the group is to expand the opportunities for investment in rail as a key tool for economic growth. Another major goal is publicizing the role of rail as a means to reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuel and to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.

The OneRail Statement of Principles is at http://transact.org/onerail/principles.asp