NEWS FROM VERMONT SENATORS

        PATRICK LEAHY AND JIM JEFFORDS

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                      CONTACT:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2000                                  ERIK SMULSON (JEFFORDS) 202-224-5141

DAVID CARLE (LEAHY) 202-224-4242

 

                         BURLINGTON TO BOSTON 

         TO BE DESIGNATED HIGH SPEED RAIL LINE

 

 

Washington, D.C. – Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation will formally designate the rail corridor between Burlington, Vermont and Boston, Massachusetts as a high speed rail corridor.  The designation will be announced by the Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater tomorrow.  In addition, the FY 2001 Transportation Appropriations bill, expected to be signed into law later this week by President Clinton, includes $200,000 to begin the first phase of studying creation of high speed rail service on this line.

 

“Improving rail service along this corridor will relieve congestion, improve commerce and speed travel for tourists, business travelers and students,” said Jeffords. “This designation will allow Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to begin the process of bringing improved rail service to this vital rail link.”

 

Leahy quote

 

Earlier this year Jeffords and Leahy led an effort by the Congressional delegations and the Governors from Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to convince President Clinton on the importance of including this rail line in the high speed rail corridor program.  Congress has authorized designation of eleven high speed rail lines across the nation.  Thirteen have already received approvals, leaving two corridors to be designated by the Secretary of Transportation.  The technologies these States are planning to use typically involve upgrades of existing rail lines, rather than entirely new rail lines.  Federal designation of the rail line allows states access to additional federal funding for rail improvements.

 

The $200,000 included in the Fiscal Year 2001 Transportation Appropriations bill at the request of Leahy and Jeffords will kick-off the process of studying to rail line.  The funds will be managed by the State of Vermont on behalf of the three states.

 

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[Jeff_Munger@jeffords.senate.gov October 11, 2000 11:54 AM]

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United States Senate

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

WASHINGTON. DC 20510-6175

January 8, 2001

Mr. Kenyon F. Karl
RR 1, Box 162
Warren, New Hampshire 03279-9502

Dear Kenyon

Thank you for contacting me regarding high speed rail I welcome the opportunity to respond.

As Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am pleased to announce that on October 11, 2000, the U.S. Department of Transportation designated three new high speed rail corridors in the South, Midwest, and New England, authorized as part of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) . The designated corridor in New England creates a hub at Boston connecting to the existing Northeast Corridor. One of the spokes goes northwest through Manchester and Concord, NH, to Montpelier and Burlington, VT and terminates in Montreal. The other spoke goes northeast through Portsmouth, NH and on to Portland and Auburn, ME.

This designation gives New Hampshire access to TEA-21's limited amount of railway-highway grade crossing elimination funds to provide interim improvements to the rail infrastructure in those corridors. Additionally, the FY 2001 transportation appropriations report contained $200,000 for a high speed rail feasibility study for the Now England Corridor.

Last spring, I joined other members of the New England and congressional delegation and the governors in support of this corridor designation. The people of New Hampshire must continually battle congested highways and airports, and I am pleased that with this designation New Hampshire and the region are now eligible for further study of high speed rail as a transportation option. This is an important step toward helping connect cities such as Boston to the newly renovated and expanded Manchester Airport.

In your letter you referred to S. 1900, the High Speed Rail Investment Act. Last year, this bill was referred to Senate Committee on Finance and no action has been taken. I did not support. this legislation that would cost the federal government $782 million over five years to leverage $10 billion on private sector investment to Amtrak. As Amtrak continues its struggle for operating self sufficiency, which Congress has required it to achieve by 2003, this is not a wise financial investment for the government at this time. However, I do support the study of high speed rail. I believe that any system or technology mast be based on sound science, public safety and the needs of the national economy. I would rather consider high speed rail funding during the next transportation reauthorization when there may be more information and research to support its effectiveness for the national economy.

Thank you again for contacting me. I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve you in the U. S. Senate, and I am pleased to respond to your concerns. If you have further questions or comments on any issue please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely yours,
(signed)
Bob Smith, U.S.S.
Chairman

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See also:

• U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Designates Two New High-Speed Rail Corridors (October 11, 2000)

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