Resources & Links

NARP President Ross Capon speaks before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Hearing on “The Federal Railroad Administration’s High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Program: Mistakes and Lessons Learned”

NARP writes to House and Senate reconciliation conference for Fiscal Year 2012 transportation appropriations bill.

NARP sent this letter to the “supercommittee” created under the Budget Control Act of 2011 to come up with a plan to reduce the federal deficit, urging them not to target passenger train investment for cuts.

NARP calls for the highest possible fiscal 2012 funding numbers for Amtrak and the High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail grant program, noting Amtrak’s strong ridership growth, the inexorable rise of gas prices, trains’ role in combating climate change, and the good American jobs that train investment generates.  NARP points out that Amtrak’s most pressing need is new equipment.

Statement issued by NARP President Ross Capon calling attention to numerous flaws in the “Competition for Intercity Passenger Rail in America Act” introduced by Reps. John Mica (R-FL) and Bill Shuster (R-PA), in conjunction with a hearing on the legislation held June 22.

Submitted June 9, 2011 by NARP President Ross Capon on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing titled “Opening the Northeast Corridor to Private Competition for the Development of High-Speed Rail”

Submitted April 29, 2011 by NARP President Ross Capon to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing for Fiscal 2012 Department of Transportation appropriations

Submitted April 22, 2011, to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the record of their April 7 hearing.

Submitted April 15, 2011, to the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials for the record of their March 11 hearing.

Excerpts from comments given by NARP President and CEO Ross Capon before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Jan. 27, 2011, roundtable discussion held in conjunction with a field hearing in New York City on “developing true high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor.”

Statement of Ross B. Capon to the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies regarding Fiscal 2011 Department of Transportation Appropriations

NARP President Ross Capon’s annual public-witness statement to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, calling for full funding of Amtrak, additional funding for high-speed and intercity passenger rail grants to the states, and a focus on financing the equipment necessary to grow the intercity train network in fiscal year 2011

NARP and MHSRA write to Senate and House conferees on funding for passenger trains in the FY2010 appropriations bill, a fleet expansion proposal, and the “Amtrak-gun-carriage” provision.

Specifying America’s short-term needs for expanded rail service and the locomotives and railcars needed to make it happen.

NARP President Ross Capon’s statement to Chairman Patty Murray of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development calling for full funding at or above Amtrak’s requested levels.

In a written statement [PDF] for the record in response to a hearing held July 7, 2009, by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation & Community Development entitled Public Transportation: A Core Climate Solution, NARP President and CEO Ross Capon points to a host of taxpayer subsidies for automobile and air travel to rebuff critics who say that these modes pay for themselves via user fees. Capon also deliniates the external costs associated with the United States’ “fly-drive” transportation system, as well as the myriad benefits of passenger rail and transit and the livable communities they foster.

Council of Representatives member Kenneth Joseph testified on NARP’s behalf at a field hearing of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, held in Pittsburgh on June 22, on expanding passenger rail service. He called for immediate improvements to existing service in western Pennsylvania, including reinstating Amtrak’s Three Rivers and improving track speed and capacity on the Norfolk Southern Harrisburg-Pittsburgh main line.

NARP President Ross B. Capon’s letter to Rep. James Oberstar, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and other T&I leaders, urging them to ensure revenues from any climate change bill provide funding for improving energy-efficient transportation.

Submitted May 26, 2009, to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

View photos and a description of our April 21, 2009 Congressional Reception, honoring Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Representative John L. Mica (R-FL), as well as photos from NARP’s council meeting.

Statement supporting Amtrak’s full funding request, with additional detailed sections titled:

I. The Potential on Shared-used Tracks
II. The Need to Keep Trains Running
III. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Statistics It is Sound Public Policy to Support Trains
IV. Overnight Trains
V. Issues from Last Year

Click here to download NARP’s guide to the 111th Congress, which includes the members of key committees that influence transportation funding and legislative issues.  Also includes a handy list of “Do’s and Don’ts” when contacting your elected officials.

Written testimony submitted to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, February 11, 2009

A letter to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, Chairman, Senate Commerce Committee from NARP endorsing Ray LaHood to lead the DOT.

October 29, 2008, hearing, statement for the record, with sections headed as follows:

I. Infrastructure Investment and Passenger Trains
II. State Programs
III. Hudson River Railroad Tunnels (“ARC” or Access to the Region’s Core Project)
IV. APPENDIX: Partial list of citizen efforts to improve the ARC project

August 8, 2008 letter to House Democrats who requested a Government Accountability Office report on surface transportation policy regarding the report’s shortcomings on passenger trains

July 8, 2008 Letter to House and Senate conferees on S. 294 and H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act outlining NARP’s concerns regarding differences in the legislation

NARP urges support of full Amtrak funding in Fiscal 2009 appropriations process.

Hearing on “Climate Change Impacts on the Transportation Sector”...NARP’s views on how passenger trains can play a bigger role in addressing the problems associated with climate change.

View photos and a description of our April 30, 2008 Congressional Reception, honoring Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Representative John Olver (D-MA)

Statement supporting Amtrak’s full funding request, with additional detailed sections titled:

I. Strong Ridership Growth
II. How to Keep Ridership Growing
III. State Grant Program
IV. Service Reliability
V. It is Sound Public Policy to Support Trains
VI. Hudson River Tunnels
VII. Back Pay
VIII. Work Rules

Statement supporting Amtrak’s full funding request, with additional detailed sections titled:

I. Strong Ridership Growth
II. It is Sound Public Policy to Support Trains
III. How to Keep Ridership Growing
IV. Service Reliability
V. Hudson River Tunnels
VI. Back Pay
VII. Work Rules

Written testimony submitted to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Railroads Subcommittee.  Capon also testified live before the committee.

Letter opposing amendment by Rep. John Boozman (R-AR) that would rescind Amtrak’s right of access to freight railroads.

View photos and a decription of our May 2, 2007 Congressional Reception, honoring Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

Statement supporting Amtrak’s full funding request, with additional detailed sections titled:

I. There is a Strong Case for Rail Passenger Growth
II. Energy Efficiency
III. Route Cutting Is Not in the Public Interest
IV. Overnight Trains A National Treasure
V. Shorter Corridors

Statement supporting the 25% investment tax credits sought by the freight railroads and recognizing the important role that public-private partnerships can play in enhancing capacity and efficiency of the nation’s railroad network.  However, it cautions that tax credits and partnerships combined will not come near filling the huge gap billion between investment needed to enable freight railroads just to maintain existing market share in a growing economy, and investment that the railroads are likely to make or finance on their own.

June 5, 2006, endorsing full funding for Amtrak above subcommittee recommendation of $900 million

NARP’s written statement supporting full funding for Amtrak in fiscal 2007.

Take a look at photos from our very successful April 27, 2006 event honoring the Members of the 109th Congress.

I.  Why Trains are a Good Investment
II.  Amtrak Efficiency Concerns
III. Funding Levels
IV. Long-distance Economics

Government investment in rail infrastructure is needed, but capacity enhancements should focus on benifits to passenger rail.

True Amtrak “reform”: Secure federal funding, rolling stock repair and investment, customer service improvement, harnessing efficiencies in food and on-board service, maintaining Amtrak vertical integration.

Food and Beverage oversight hearing: How much service; hours of service; food quality; cost-effectiveness; service reductions; positive innovations.

I. Why trains are a good investment (sub sections: opinion polls, ridership, other justifications, long-distance economics, on-board food service)
II. Federal-State Partnership Needed in addition to, not in place of Amtrak
III. Amtrak’s (Board of Directors-drafted reform) plan

I. Why trains are a good investment (sub sections: opinion polls, ridership, other justifications, long-distance economics, on-board food service)
II. Federal-State Partnership Needed in addition to, not in place of Amtrak
III. Amtrak’s (Board of Directors-drafted reform) plan

... April 12, 2005, regarding NARP’s endorsement of Joseph H. Boardman to be Administrator of the FRA.

Photos from the April 21, 2005 NARP Congressional Reception, held in the Rayburn House Office Building.

... on August 13, 2004, regarding funding Amtrak in Fiscal 2005.

... on July 14, 2004 regarding funding Amtrak in Fiscal 2005.

I. $900 million is a shutdown budget for Amtrak;
II. Passenger Rail Security;
III. The Public Wants the Rail Choice;
IV. The National Network

I. $900 million is a shutdown budget for Amtrak;
II. Passenger Rail Security;
III. The Public Wants the Rail Choice;
IV. The National Network

Corridor development with table of corridor ridership; importance of long distance train with average trip length table to illustrate utility of service.

... on July 17, 2003, regarding disastrous, shutdown funding proposal for Amtrak for 2004.

... on September 25, 2002, regarding disastrous and arbitrary proposal to measure long-distance train “performance”.

... on March 22, 2002, urging supplemental funding for Amtrak in consideration of its tight equipment situation.

... on October 31, 2001, urging near-term, nationwide passenger-rail investments

List of NARP testimonies prior to October 1, 2003 available on this website.