Washington, D.C., Feb 14, 2024 -- The Coalition for the Northeast Corridor has endorsed Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), along with 13 other members of Congress, for sending a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) and leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations to express concern with the Committee's proposed funding reductions for Amtrak's National Network and the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the elimination of the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Rail Program for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
The House Appropriations Committee has proposed severe cuts to rail funding in their FY24 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill, specifically reducing Amtrak's budget by 64% from the previous fiscal year and the NEC's funding by 92%. Members of Congress highlighted that reduced funding for the National Network and the NEC would lead to national reductions or suspensions of service, resulting in fewer trains, increased delays, and higher costs for Americans who rely on travel with Amtrak for their commutes to work, entertainment, and more. According to the NEC's Northeast Corridor and the American Economy Report, 20% of American jobs are in the NEC region.
"These proposals would reduce federal funding to levels so low that normal operations would become impossible. They are misguided and shortsighted. Our communities depend on Amtrak to keep us moving, and such extreme cuts to rail funding will create unreasonable and unjustifiable disruptions in our constituents' daily lives," said Rep. Fitzpatrick.
The elimination of the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Rail Program is similarly concerning, given that the program provides funding to state governments to develop and improve intercity passenger rail services nationwide. The elimination of this program would be to the detriment of economies and communities not only from D.C. to Boston but across the entire country. Representatives asserted in the letter that the termination of the Fed-State Partnership would injure American businesses of all shapes and sizes, harming rail construction, manufacturing, and supply chain jobs in the Northeast and impact all non-rail-related companies whose employees rely on the NEC for their commute to work.
"Such extreme cuts to rail funding are a risk to American communities and economies. Amtrak's National Network, the NEC, and the Fed-State Partnership for Intercity Rail Program are critical pieces of national infrastructure, and to reduce support for these programs is to reduce support for hard-working Americans and American businesses nationwide," said Mike Friedberg, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Northeast Corridor.
A copy of the Congressional letter can be found here.
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About CNEC
The Coalition for the Northeast Corridor (CNEC) is a multi-stakeholder coalition formed to advocate for increased infrastructure spending specifically on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. CNEC represents the spectrum of transportation and business community stakeholders whose employees rely on the corridor to conduct commerce, create jobs, and drive the U.S. economy forward. The coalition intends to protect these "end-users" that rely on a vibrant interstate and commuter rail system between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. by informing and mobilizing stakeholders across the corridor, and by developing and advocating for solutions for the region’s growth.