Show of Support for Amtrak Funding by Northeast Business Leaders

The Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility, a coalition of chambers of commerce and economic policy groups in the Northeast megaregion, met with lawmakers yesterday in the U.S. Capitol to show their support for funding Amtrak's capital needs in the Northeast Corridor and improving intercity and regional rail service. The Business Alliance, which is chaired by the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Regional Plan Association, was joined by Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Amtrak president and CEO Alex Kummant (above).

L-R: Former Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker and Sen. Tom Carper

Sen. A. Specter

In its press release, the Alliance stressed three goals for the Northeast Corridor:

1. Provide the yearly capital funding necessary to return the Northeast Corridor rail infrastructure to a state of good repair.
2. Reduce intercity trip times through appropriate investments in equipment and infrastructure.
3. Encourage Amtrak, the Governors in the Northeast, and the commuter railroads to work together to develop a long-term plan to increase the capacity of the corridor for commuter, intercity, and freight service.

In addition to focusing on modernizing the Northeast Corridor, the Alliance announced that it will address other transportation needs in the Northeast, by focusing on the next surface transportation bill authorization in 2009.

Click here to view more pictures of the event on Flickr.
Download a brochure on the Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility.
Read the article in CQ Today about the April 2 Forum.
View a list of participants in the April 2 Forum.