President Obama’s High Speed Rail Investments Tying Together the Chesapeake Urban Crescent
COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH and 1000 FRIENDS OF MARYLAND
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 28, 2010
Contact:
Stewart Schwartz, Coalition for Smarter Growth 202-244-4408 ext 121
Dru Schmidt-Perkins, 1000 Friends of MD,(410) 385-2910
President Obama’s High Speed Rail Investments Tying Together the Chesapeake Urban Crescent
Maryland and Virginia Receive Down Payments on Bold Plans
The Coalition for Smarter Growth and 1000 Friends of Maryland praised the Obama Administration’s $8 billion nationwide High Speed Rail Initiative.
“The investment of $70 million in engineering work for the downtown Baltimore Tunnels and the BWI station is a down payment toward Maryland’s comprehensive rail upgrade strategy for Amtrak and MARC,” said Dru Schmidt-Perkins, Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Maryland. “These are critical investments in smart growth, energy efficiency and economic competitiveness.”
“The $75 million invested in 11 miles of third track between Washington and Richmond, is just the first step in Virginia’s comprehensive strategy for this corridor. Virginia has a well-designed and phased plan for rail upgrades in its ‘urban crescent’,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
“This corridor encompasses the vast majority of the population and annual economic output of the three jurisdictions of Maryland, DC and Virginia, and also the area where there is the greatest need for high-speed, efficient alternatives to growing traffic congestion.” said Perkins.
“Higher speed rail in the mid-Atlantic would offer a critical alternative to traffic choked I-95 and the long-delays involved with air travel. It would reduce energy consumption and promote the continued revitalization of our cities,” concluded Schwartz.
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