Washington, D.C. \u2014 Amtrak unveiled the \u201cReady to Build\u201d campaign, which includes a series of short films showcasing five critical investments that are vital to the realization of a renewed, modern passenger rail system.<\/p>\n
The campaign emphasizes needed investments at major stations, including in Chicago Union Station, as well as in infrastructure along the busy Northeast Corridor (NEC), where the majority of Amtrak-owned assets are located. The NEC carries 260 million intercity and commuter customers each year and growing. However, demand for passenger rail service continues to outpace investment, resulting in a backlog of more than $38 billion of deferred capital investments that risks future service expansion and reliability.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NEC is a central artery for the greater Northeast, which generates 20 percent of U.S. gross domestic product and is one of the country\u2019s principle economic engines,\u201d said Amtrak co-CEO Wick Moorman. \u201cThese major projects are critical to keeping people, the economy and the nation moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amtrak and its state and federal partners have started the planning and regulatory reviews required for these complex, multi-year projects. Once funding is identified and obtained, Amtrak and its partners are ready to finalize design and begin construction for the following critical investments:<\/p>\n
Amtrak is the majority owner of the NEC infrastructure and its connecting corridors, the NEC is a shared transportation asset that runs through eight states and the District of Columbia. It is used by Amtrak, eight commuter rail partners and multiple freight operators that together run nearly 2,200 daily trains.<\/p>\n