(Source: Amtrak press release (PDF), January 13, 2012)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a pilot program to expedite environmental review of Northeast Corridor high-speed passenger rail projects. The statement below is from Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman:
“The decision to expedite the federal environmental review process for Northeast Corridor (NEC) high-speed rail projects is great news for all users of the NEC who are seeking increased passenger rail capacity, mobility and connectivity in the region.
“A faster review process will help speed along Amtrak’s efforts to rebuild and improve today’s Corridor and advance Amtrak’s vision to develop a new high-capacity, 220 mph NextGen high-speed rail system serving the region, including our Gateway Program to bring more track, tunnel and station capacity into the heart of Manhattan.”