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| October 1, 2010
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FRA Issues Progress Report on Plan's Development |
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A long-term commitment is needed to help freight and passenger rail accommodate future U.S. economic and population growth, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared Tuesday while releasing the findings of a progress report that updates the Federal Railroad Administration's efforts to develop a first-ever comprehensive National Rail Plan.
"America's economic vitality has been driven by investments in transportation," LaHood said in a statement. "Giving rail a greater role in our national transportation system will help us meet the 21st century challenges of population growth, increasing energy costs, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring the nation remains competitive in the global economy." The progress report released Tuesday builds upon the Preliminary National Rail Plan mandated by the Passenger Rail Improvement and Investment Act of 2008 and submitted to Congress in October 2009. It outlines the numerous factors, past, present, and future, that make a compelling case for improving rail infrastructure. "Ensuring higher-performing freight- and passenger-rail systems is the key to integrating surface, air, and waterway transport," said Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo, adding that, "a balanced and fully interconnected transportation network allows for the safe, efficient, and seamless movement of people and goods." FRA determined that current demographic analyses and forecasts anticipate continued population growth, especially in urban areas. Coupled with corresponding increases in freight shipments, such growth will place additional burdens on transportation systems that are already working at or beyond capacity. The resulting traffic congestion translates into lost productivity, not only harming commerce, but degrading quality of life for citizens. Since rail is one of the safest and most fuel-efficient modes of transportation, it is well-positioned to make a significant contribution to accommodating this forecasted growth.The 27-page progress report is available at bit.ly/FRA092810. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials commends FRA for releasing this progress report. It "helps to maintain the momentum toward developing the national rail system -- both passenger and freight -- that the nation will need going forward," said AASHTO Executive Director John Horsley. "It echoes long-standing AASHTO policy." Horsley added that "higher demands for goods and services, as well as increased passenger mobility on our nation's infrastructure, is going to require a strong federal commitment to funding not only our rail network, but also our highway, transit, marine, and aviation systems." More information is available from AASHTO at www.highspeed-rail.org and rail.transportation.org. Questions regarding this article may be directed to editor@aashtojournal.org. |