A New Alignment: Strengthening America’s Commitment to Passenger Rail

The paper makes the point that passenger railroads are thriving. Amtrak ridership is growing by leaps and bounds. The largest 100 metropolitan areas in the country support this trend. Routes that travel 400 miles or less - short distance carriers - carry 83% of Amtrak passengers. Railroad tracks are being upgraded, railroad stations are being redeveloped, and routes are being operated by partnerships between Amtrak and the states. The federal government is also partaking in these partnerships, and shares the responsibility for Amtrak's failures and successes. This report recommends continued partnership agreements between Amtrak and the states; refining and promoting existing intermodal transportation programs; and completing a national plan for railroads that would enable multistate agreements and empower stronger relationships between private enterprise and governments.