OneRail on deficit: Invest in infrastructure

In a two-page letter addressed to the co-chairs of the congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, the One Rail Coalition urges Congress “to embrace this opportunity to stabilize our country’s finances and spur economic growth by continuing to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, including rail. Investing in transportation infrastructure is crucial for both near‐term economic recovery and long‐term prosperity.

“Our global economic competitors are aggressively investing in their domestic infrastructure. In 2010, China invested 9% of its GDP in infrastructure, India 5%, Europe 5%, and the U.S. only 2%. They are racing ahead of us right now—the U.S. must increase domestic infrastructure investment to retain our position as the world’s best place to do business. Infrastructure investments have underpinned American economic growth in the past and must continue to do so in the future,” the coalition said in its letter, dated Oct. 6, 2011.

“Along with the OneRail Coalition, other major American business, industry, labor, and government groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL‐CIO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Governors Association, in addition to government commissions including the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission and the Simpson‐Bowles Deficit Commission, have all determined that we must maintain and improve our infrastructure system to ignite economic growth, improve our global competitiveness, and make it easier for businesses to create jobs,” the coalition said.

“Rail is a crucial piece of an effective and efficient transportation infrastructure system that allows people and goods to move quickly around our country, within and between metro areas, enhancing productivity, creating jobs, and allowing America to remain the largest and best functioning economy in the world,”the coalition asserted. “A smooth logistics system without major bottlenecks also allows our exporters to compete in the global economy.”

Stressing the need for private investment and public financing, the coalition pointed out, “The nation’s privately owned freight railroads are investing billions in their own infrastructure—over $12 billion in capital spending in 2011 and more than $480 billion since 1980 invested in infrastructure and equipment. This will continue, but it is also important to make public investments in America’s passenger rail infrastructure and operations. These investments will produce benefits for America’s people and economy— for example, even with limited investment, Amtrak is on pace to set an all‐time ridership record this year, and commuter railroads and rail transit agencies will provide more than 4.5 billion passenger trips this year.”

The letter, signed by One Rail Coalition Director Anne Canby, speaks for coalition members that include Amtrak, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA), the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), National Railroad Construction andMaintenance Association (NRC), Railway Supply Institute (RSI), States for Passenger Rail Coalition (SPRC), Surface Transportation Policy Partnership (STPP), Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA), Transportation Communications International Union/International Association of Machinists (TCU/IAM) and the United Transportation Union (UTU).

OneRail also lists associate supporters that include AECOM, Alstom, General Electric Co., HNTB, Parsons, Parsons Brinckerhoff, and SYSTRA.