Congressman John Olver Wins National Railroad Award
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Release #08-09—April 30, 2008
Washington D.C., April 30, 2008—The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that U.S. Representative John Olver (D-MA) is a recipient of the 2008 George Falcon Golden Spike Award. The award honors individuals for their contributions to the advancement of passenger rail.
Olver is chairman of, and former ranking member on, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
“He has consistently been an articulate voice in favor of a balanced transportation system in which passenger trains play a growing role,” said NARP Executive Director Ross Capon.
Chairman Olver said, “I am honored to receive this award. First as the Ranking Member of the transportation appropriations subcommittee, and now as the Chairman, I have looked for ways to ensure that intercity passenger rail plays an integral part of our nation’s transportation policy. Our population has reached record levels, and the challenges created by this growth – congested highways and airspace, increased travel delays, and environmental degradation – are clear. It should also be clear that we cannot build our way out of these mobility problems with new roads and airports alone. Intercity passenger rail must be part of the solution.”
Chairman Olver’s work has been particularly appreciated by NARP, which last June introduced a vision for a grid-and-gateway network of interconnected transportation options that would encourage and link state corridor projects such as those championed by Congressman Olver. This vision was broadly endorsed by a federal blue-ribbon commission, which additionally recommended funding and legislative options that would help implement this network.
“The expanded passenger train network that Americans need is eminently reachable in the next few decades if we begin to put the pieces into place now – and Congressman Olver is helping put those pieces into place,” said Capon.
The Association presents George Falcon Golden Spike Awards to honor individuals, usually public officials, for their support for a fully developed train network and leadership in promoting rail development. A complete list of past winners is available here.
The award is named for George Falcon, a Los Angeles area publisher and early member of NARP, who created the award.