National Coalition of Passenger Train Groups Urge California’s Governor to Break Ground on High-Speed Rail in 2012

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#12-02)

January 31, 2012

Contact: Sean Jeans-Gail – 202-408-8362 [mobile: 202-320-2723]

National Coalition of Passenger Train Groups Urge California’s Governor to Break Ground on High-Speed Rail in 2012

Offer Plan to Broaden Support for Project in Metropolitan Areas

The National Association of Railroad Passengers, Californians for High Speed Rail, and Midwest High Speed Rail Association joined together this week to issue a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown, calling on his Administration to move forward with construction on the high-speed rail (HSR) project’s first segment. 

[Read the full text of the letter (PDF)]

“The need to break ground this year for the Initial Construction Segment in the San Joaquin Valley is paramount to the future of HSR in the state and nation,” said the letter.  “Furthermore, HSR will serve as the catalyst for a robust expansion of California’s economy and provide a significant boost to employment in the state.”

The three leading passenger rail advocacy groups also proposed accelerating plans to engage in passenger rail investment in the HSR corridors’ densely populated endpoints.

“To ensure the necessary level of public support for the statewide HSR project, it is important that people in the major metropolitan areas (where a large portion of California citizens reside) also see tangible benefits in the first phases of construction,” continued the statement.  “We therefore urge you, in concert with the existing passenger rail agencies, to work to allocate such funds as are available to projects that will enhance public safety and improve existing rail services in corridors that high-speed rail trains will utilize upon further investments.”