HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 02 01 Mail: Congress of the United States RECEIVED
JOHN L. MICA
7TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA FEB •- 1 2010
(Unarm of tfje Zlittiteb Stateg OFF CE OF HE CITY CLERK
gouge of 3tepregentatibeg e: M lee /CL( (e4 lc_
tEastingtott, flC 20515 -0907
January 28, 2010
The Honorable John F. Bush
Mayor
City of Winter Springs
1126 East S. R. 434
Winter Springs, FL 32708
Dear John:
Knowing of your interest in transportation issues, I wanted to provide you with some of
my comments and perspective relating to federal awards for high -speed rail initiatives. To that
end, I have included a press release from Rep. Bill Shuster (R -PA), Ranking Rail Subcommittee
Leader and myself regarding the Administration's announcement relating to building high -speed
rail systems in the United States.
Please feel free to contact me with this or any other issue of interest to you.
With my regards and best wishes, I remain
Sincere
John L. Mica
• : ess
JLM/nw
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
o qY u . � s4
I".S. ( 0ii2r
y Azi
col John L. Mica
�" + N , b I'Iriti<Itt Sere/11h I)i.strii l
2313 Rayburn H.O.B. Washington, D.C. (202) 225 -4035
For Immediate Release Contact: Justin Harclerode
January 28, 2010 (202) 226 -8767
Mica, Shuster Response to High -Speed Rail Announcement
Washington, DC — U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R -FL), the Republican Leader of
the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster
(R -PA), the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking
Member, offered both a positive response and a sharp criticism of the
Administration's announcement relating to building high -speed rail systems in the
United States.
"I am pleased that President Obama has helped to launch a system for improved
passenger rail service for our nation," Mica said.
"As the author of high -speed rail legislation included in the Passenger Rail
Investment and Improvement Act signed into law by President Bush on October 16,
2008, I welcome new rail infrastructure projects that can relieve our congested highways
and airspace, limit pollution, and more efficiently use our energy resources."
However, Mica cautioned that there is only a limited chance that taxpayers will
see any semblance of true high -speed rail operating with the projects chosen.
"Even the first leg of the Orlando -Tampa route will be a slow- speed, short -stop
line," Mica said. "The Midwest routes chosen will only achieve a top speed of 110 miles
per hour and were selected more for political reasons than for high -speed service."
He noted that high -speed rail systems around the world now operate at an
average of 150 mph or more.
"I am disappointed in the failure of the Obama Administration to follow the
guidelines of the 2008 law, which highlighted private sector investment and
participation," Mica continued. "The projects chosen by the Administration were not
transparently selected and lack adequate private sector financial commitment.
"Just spending huge amounts of federal taxpayer funds will not insure success of
these megaprojects. The last thing the American people need is another bailout program
with low -speed trains to nowhere," said Mica.
"As a coauthor of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, I agree
with Ranking Member Mica that the Obama Administration missed a golden opportunity
to involve the private sector in the development of a high speed rail system," said Rep.
Shuster. "I included a provision for private sector competition in the 2008 law, which
Amtrak has completely ignored."
"Each ticket sold by Amtrak is subsidized almost $55 by the American taxpayer.
Unfortunately we will not have the opportunity to reduce taxpayer exposure to the costs
of development for these lines," Shuster said.
"I am also concerned that scarce federal dollars will be spread too thin among too
many rail projects, leading to incremental progress that could slow our already delayed
entrance into high -speed rail. This is another reason the government must encourage
private investment," Shuster added.
Mica continued, "Finally, most disappointing is the unfortunate hijacking of the
Northeast Corridor, which for the most part was kept out of the selection process and will
remain the slow -speed stepchild of passenger rail transportation. Keeping the Northeast
Corridor as a private train set for a few select politicians will insure continued congestion
in our nation's most densely populated region.
"With 75 percent of our country's aviation chronic delays beginning in the New
York airspace, it is a shame that the people in that crowded corridor have been
shortchanged in this high -speed rail system selection process.
"The Acela runs at an average speed of 83 mph between Washington, DC and
New York City, and Amtrak has limited plans for improvement that will take 20 years to
reach even moderate speeds in our most important transportation corridor.
"It's regrettable that continuing the Soviet -style Amtrak operation has trumped
true high -speed service for a corridor so vital to our national transportation interests,"
Mica concluded.
The federal government is providing $8 billion in stimulus funds for the project
awards announced. In addition, $2.5 billion was appropriated in 2010 for high -speed rail
projects.
# ##