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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (#11-17)
July 6, 2011

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

Passengers Voice Concern Over Transportation Spending Proposal, Seek Pursuit of Revised Priorities

With the expected unveiling tomorrow of the initial draft of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee's surface transportation reauthorization, the National Association of Railroad Passengers is calling for a change of direction, with protections for the investments in the transportation network that will allow America to succeed in the 21st century.

A bipartisan group of Representatives-including Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Steven LaTourette (R-OH), noted leaders on transportation issues-called on House T&I Chairman John Mica (R-FL) to maintain or increase funding for infrastructure. The coalition of House Members cited warnings issued by transportation experts who have identified hundreds of billions of dollars in state of good repair backlogs, saying we will need to invest $2 trillion to rebuild roads, rails, bridges, and other elements of U.S. infrastructure that are reaching the end of their useful life cycles. NARP supports the call for funding, while advocating for more efficient and balanced investment.

"We appreciate the difficult task Chairman Mica faces, but the simple fact is reduced transportation investment cannot build a better transportation system for Americans," said NARP President Ross Capon. "Getting the right mix of public and private investment-and identifying the right set of outcomes-will require serious rethinking of national priorities and changes to current processes and incentives for moving away from the status quo.

"This funding crisis should be a chance to rethink how the whole network can more efficiently meet a wider range of objectives-goals for funding; energy security; and household, business and public costs. By achieving synergy across sectors-transportation, energy, housing, economy, and environment to name a few-America will build a transportation system capable of supporting a vibrant 21st century economy. This synergy includes integrating rail, road, water, transit, pedestrian, and bike networks into seamless systems for local, regional and interstate travel. Most importantly, we must stop overemphasizing the automobile and the creation of communities that will isolate anyone who cannot drive."