(The following story by Michael Pagan appeared at Politicker.com on May 7, 2009.)
WASHINGTON, DC — The Senate today passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to celebrate Amtrak’s second annual National Train Day. The resolution, joined by 21 co-sponsors, raises awareness about the critical role passenger rail plays in serving America’s travel needs.
“Train travel is more popular than ever and Amtrak’s ridership is at record levels,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “Traveling by train is not only easy and convenient, it is energy-efficient, protects our environment and reduces our reliance on oil. I hope Americans across the country celebrate National Train Day and learn more about the benefits of passenger rail.”
For fiscal year 2008, a record 28.7 million passengers rode Amtrak — the sixth consecutive year of record ridership and revenue. With the increased congestion in the nation’s airports and on its highways, intercity passenger rail is a vital alternative for intercity travel throughout the country. Amtrak trains are also 18 percent more energy-efficient than airlines and 25 percent more than cars and trucks, according to a 2008 U.S. Department of Energy report, which helps preserve our environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We appreciate the strong support of Senator Lautenberg over many years,” said Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman. “Amtrak is the one company that possesses the know-how, desire, organizational structure and depth to help meet the nation’s rail mobility needs in an energy-competitive world.”
Amtrak designed National Train Day to inform more Americans about the vital role of intercity passenger rail in our nation’s transportation system. The Saturday, May 9th events include promotions, musical performances, celebrity appearances, educational displays at the some of the railroad’s largest stations–Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles–along with events in more than 120 communities.
Sen. Lautenberg wrote a law, which was enacted last October, that fully funds Amtrak and modernizes and expands the U.S. passenger rail system. The bipartisan plan authorizes infrastructure improvements and the expansion of rail routes, including high-speed rail, into new American towns and cities over the next six years. The Economic Recovery Law signed by President Obama in February includes more than $9 billion dollars for Amtrak and high-speed rail.
The resolution was cosponsored by Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) , Roland Burris (D-IL), Tom Carper (D-DE), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Edward Kaufman (D-DE), John Kerry (D-MA), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), John “Jay” Rockefeller (D-WV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Arlen Specter (D-PA), John Thune (R-SD), Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Warner (D-VA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).