Statement by American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar
“With the pending announcements of the first federal grants for high-speed rail, I praise the Obama Administration for taking this historic step toward bringing the vision of high-speed passenger rail to fruition in America. It is the beginning of our nation’s journey in implementing high-speed rail and higher-speed rail and creating a world-class, multi-modal transportation system. This time will be remembered as the beginning of a new era in transportation.
Investing in high-speed rail is essential for our country’s future. Not only will high-speed rail provide faster and quicker travel, but it will create American jobs now while building a new industry with hundreds of thousands of long-term, sustainable jobs.
While ensuring that America remains an economic engine with good, “green” American jobs, high-speed rail is also essential so that we can move toward a sustainable, modern transportation system that meets the environmental and energy challenges of this century.
These grants for high-speed rail mean that we are much closer to a world-class transportation system that demonstrates the vision of a connected America. They put us on the right track to connecting our transportation network so that people can take high-speed rail and easily transfer to local public transportation services to reach their destination.
As long-time advocates for high-speed rail, APTA and its membership are enthusiastic about the coming high-speed rail grant announcements. There is a lot of work ahead and we look forward to the challenge of making high-speed rail a reality.”
NOTES TO REPORTERS:
1.) Attendance at the February High-Speed Rail seminars is free for media but we request that you register in advance of the seminar.
To pre-register, go to www.highspeedrailonline.org and click on the section for the February high-speed rail seminars or click on the following link: http://www.apta.com/mc/conferences/90days/2010HighSpeedRail_Chicago/Documents/reg_private_09.pdf
When you fill out the registration form, cross out the payment section and write PRESS. Then fax it to the Meetings Department at 202-496-4331.
2.) APTA has created a Center for High-Speed Rail to advance and promote high-speed rail in the United States. The website for the Center for High-Speed Rail is www.highspeedrailonline.org.