Secretary LaHood sets next step in development of National Rail Plan
Written by jrood
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 today announced these findings of a new report, Moving Forward: A Progress Report, that updates the U.S. Department of Transportation's efforts to develop a first-ever comprehensive National Rail Plan (NRP).
"America’s economic
vitality has been driven by investments in transportation," said Secretary
LaHood. "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."
"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."
The progress report 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.
Its findings reveal 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 also
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.
