Friday, February 5, 2010
Howard Learner
ELPC convened a panel of experts at the National Press Club on February 4, 2010 to review the economic, environmental and regional ramifications of the Obama Administration’s high-speed rail stimulus awards. “The $8 billion awarded by the Obama Administration is the first step,” said ELPC President Howard Learner, who moderated the Press Club event. “It’s the beginning of a restructuring of the transportation system for the 21st Century.”
The panelists included:
Anne Canby, President, OneRail Coalition
Arthur Guzzetti, Vice President for Policy, American Public Transportation Association
John Horsley, Executive Director, American Assoc. of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Joseph McHugh, VP Government Affairs/Communications, Amtrak
John Risch, Alternate National Legislative Director, United Transportation Union
Listen to the Briefing
Click here to listen to audio of the press briefing, or the question-and-answer session.
Click here to view photos from the event
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) today commended the Obama Administration for the diverse selection of high speed-rail projects and national approach to awarding $8 billion in stimulus funding.
The 13 projects chosen represent critical first steps toward building a modern, national, passenger rail infrastructure and are the first significant passenger rail investments in nearly a century. These projects encompass 31 states. They enhance connectivity through a variety of technologies in the most environmentally responsible mode of regional transportation, noted Howard Learner, ELPC president.
“This is the beginning of transformative improvement to our nation’s transportation system, giving people a modern, fast, comfortable and convenient travel option,” stated Learner. This funding will put people to work while it improves our environment, strengthens key regions of our nation and enhances our ability to compete in the global economy.“
ELPC will host a National Press Club press briefing Monday, February 1, in Washington, D.C. to review the expected impact of the high speed rail investments. Panelists include Arthur Guzzetti, American Public Transportation Association, John Risch, United Transportation Union, and Thomas Simpson, Railway Supply Institute. The panel will be moderated by Howard Learner.
Currently, the Obama Administration’s total commitment to high-speed rail stands at $10.5 billion, with an additional $1 billion per year pledged to be included in the budget for the next five years. The House transportation committee has also recommended including $50 billion for high-speed rail development in the upcoming transportation reauthorization.
“Today’s awards are only the first step in a long-term process. Significant additional federal funding will be required if we are to truly realize the benefits of modern rail and compete in the global market,” Learner concluded.
To learn more about the Environmental Law & Policy Center’s high-speed rail advocacy, visit elpc.org/highspeedrail
8 Comments »
Monday, October 26, 2009
In a blog post for Progressive Railroading ELPC Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker explains that our transportation system brings together networks of different options that that work together to keep us mobile.
As America embarks on its first investment in passenger rail in decades, it is important to remember that the strength of our transportation system lies not in single corridors, but in networks. The less reliant we are on a single corridor or mode, the stronger our transportation system.
Thus, when critics of high-speed rail point to the small portion of Americans who will use a particular train, they are missing the point.
Many components of America’s transportation infrastructure with local and regional, if not national, significance carry only a small percentage of regional travelers or trips:
• America’s busiest airport (Atlanta) handles only six percent of domestic boardings. Dallas, Denver, and Los Angeles each handle less than three percent.
• Interstate 494 in Minnesota serves popular destinations such as the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Mall of America, and growing suburbs. Yet only seven percent of all trips made in the Twin Cities metro region utilize I-494.
• The Capital Beltway, the busy circumferential highway dividing Washington, D.C., from reality, carries less than 11 percent of area commuters. Replacing a single bridge along this road cost $2.5 billion.
• On a typical business day, only 2 percent of people entering Manhattan’s Central Business District drive over the Brooklyn Bridge.
• And on the West Coast, trans-San Francisco Bay trips through the Bay Bridge Corridor, across the San Mateo Howard Bridge and over the Dumbarton Bridge comprise only 4 percent of all regional trips.
Nobody would seriously suggest that any of these pieces of transportation infrastructure is “wasteful” because it serves such a small portion of its potential users. Let’s not let critics go unchallenged in saying the same about rail investments.
Friday, August 28, 2009
ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner’s opinion piece in today’s Springfield State Journal-Register points out the many benefits a high-speed rail network would bring to the Midwest:
“…For many years, federal and state taxpayers have provided trillions of dollars of support for highways, airports and air service. It’s now time for public investment in high-speed rail service to provide a third intercity transportation option that works better. According to an economic study conducted for the Midwest state Departments of Transportation, the new Midwest high-speed rail network can create 57,000 permanent new jobs across the region, produce more than a billion dollars in additional household income, and spur almost $5 billion in private new development near Midwest rail stations. Let’s seize the opportunity to capture these benefits.”
Read the full OpEd.
Friday, August 21, 2009
In an op-ed in the Des Moines Register, ELPC Executive Director Howard Learner writes about the historic developments and growing support that are making high-speed in the U.S. a reality.
He writes that we need cooperation and continued commitment across the region to bring the benefits of high-speed rail to the Midwest.
“ Working together, we can create a win-win-win for our region: good for jobs and our economy, good for the environment, and good for people and our communities. Let’s get on board together and advance smart Midwest high-speed rail development on a fast track.”
Read the full Op-Ed
Monday, March 2, 2009
Appearing on WISN TV’s Upfront With Mike Gousha, ELPC’s Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker explains some of the benefits high-speed rail will bring to the Wisconsin and the Midwest, including new jobs, economic development and more convenient travel. ELPC has worked for 15 years to bring high speed rail the to Midwest. Our work took a great step forward when the Economic Stimulus Act invested $8 billion in for high speed rail.
Watch the video here
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The New York Times reports that a good chunk of the $8 billion for high-speed rail included in the economic stimulus package may benefit the Midwest.
ELPC’s President Howard Learner is quoted stating that the Midwest high-speed rail network is the US rail system that is most ready to go. The Midwest high-speed rail network would connect Chicago with 11 metropolitan areas within a 400 mile radius. For 15 years, ELPC has built support for high-speed rail in the Midwest, meeting with high-speed rail’s most influential backers, including President Obama, Senator Richard Durbin and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Read the full article here.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
In his recent State of the State address, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland listed passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland as a key part of the plan to stimulate economic growth and make Ohio stronger. He received a standing ovation from the audience as he said:
“We will work toward the restoration of passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Our goal is to link Ohio’s three largest cities by passenger rail for the first time in 40 years. This will be a first step toward a rail system that links neighborhoods within a city, and cities within our state.”
Ohio’s Department of Transportation and Amtrak have begun planning for rail service that would connect the state’s 3 largest cities by 2010. The state has requested federal stimulus funding for this project and for development of the more extensive Ohio Hub System. ELPC is working with partner organizations such as All Aboard Ohio to organize the already strong grassroots support for smart, efficient passenger rail transportation in Ohio.
Take Action: Ask Congress to adequately fund passenger rail in the economic stimulus
Full text of Governor Strickland’s speech is available here
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A yearly investment of $3 million in passenger rail service could leverage $12 million in federal aid for Iowa and create a valuable link between Chicago, the Quad Cities and other cities throughout the Midwest. ELPC’s Deputy Director Kevin Brubaker and Iowa’s Department of Transportation Director Tami Nicholson briefed Iowa legislators on the potential benefits on Tuesday.
Improving rail transportation would create jobs, increase mobility, reduce our dependence on foreign oil and decrease global warming pollution, but more funding is needed to link Chicago and the Quad Cities. Illinois leaders are aggressively pursuing federal funds for passenger rail as a part of the economic stimulus package and mass transit advocates are working to increase the funds devoted to rail projects.
Take Action: Ask Congress to adequately fund passenger rail in the economic stimulus
Read coverage in the Quad City Times
Friday, January 23, 2009
Washington, D.C.: Governor Doyle (WI) spoke to Congress Thursday about Wisconsin’s share of the proposed $825 billion dollar stimulus plan and the importance of supporting a Midwest high-speed rail network with those funds. Wisconsin, which hopes to receive $2.5 billion for general purposes and another $500 million specifically for transportation, already has more than $137 million in proposed railway construction projects ready to go. Read more here.
