Costello, Meehan advocate for funding

Rep. Costello and House colleagues continue to advocate for Northeast Corridor funding, impacting 800,000riders.

WEST CHESTER » Reps. Ryan Costello (PA-06), Patrick Meehan (PA-07), Lou Barletta (PA-11) and Pete King (NY-02) recently sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of funding for a grant program for the Northeast Corridor (NEC), as government funding negotiations continue between House and Senate leadership. The NEC, which includes rail from Massachusetts, through Pennsylvania, and down to Washington, D.C., transports a workforce that contributes nearly $50 billion to the country’s economy each year. According to the Northeast Corridor Commission, seven million jobs are within several miles of an NEC station and there are 800,000 daily riders.

The letter urges the Appropriations Committee to allocate $500 million in funding for the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair grant program, which funds replacement projects and upgrades along the NEC. At the request of Reps. Costello and Meehan in April 2017, the House appropriated $500 million towards the grant program in the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations package that passed the House in September. However, pending appropriations legislation in the U.S. Senate includes only $26 million for the program. The Congressmen, who each represent constituents who utilize the NEC, are advocating for an appropriation of $500 million to be included in any final spending package that is expected to be considered by Congress in the coming weeks.

“Pennsylvanians who use the Northeast Corridor for their daily commutes and for recreation travel with their families need to be able to trust the safety and reliability of the rail networks on which they travel. Years of underinvestment have led to a significant state-of-good-repair backlog along the NEC. Any final appropriations bill considered in the coming weeks should prioritize investment in our aging rail networks and signal a larger commitment to bringing our nation’s infrastructure into the 21st Century,” said Rep. Costello.

“Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is a crucial transportation artery that runs through the heart of our region, and every day thousands of

Pennsylvanians utilize Amtrak for commuting, business and personal travel to cities up and down the East Coast. Failing to adequately invest in the Northeast Corridor line doesn’t just mean delays for travelers – it can lead to deadly accidents like the derailment of Amtrak Train 188 in 2015. I’m hopeful our colleagues will share our understanding of the importance of the Northeast Corridor to our region and the nation and that future funding bills prioritize investments that keep the line safe and reliable,” said Rep. Meehan.

“The Northeast Corridor is a key artery for Pennsylvania’s way of life. Underinvestment greatly affects the daily lives of my constituents and rail backlogs have contributed to a deteriorating safety situation. Our nation must invest in our railways, roads, and bridges. Economic growth in the 21st century depends on investments ahead of time, and that time is running out,” said Rep. Barletta.

“The Northeast Corridor is a vital and irreplaceable conduit for our nation’s economy. Ensuring its maintenance, safety and reliability is a national concern and responsibility,” said Rep. King.

“As a founding member of the Coalition for the Northeast Corridor which represents

business, higher education and community leaders across the Northeast Corridor, we applaud Reps. Costello, Meehan, Barletta, and King for their vision and consistent support for this critical mobility asset,” said Robert C. Wonderling, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. “$100 million a day in GDP is lost if the corridor shuts down - so continued lack of investment in the Corridor means there’s zero margin for disruption. Greater Philadelphia’s and the Nation’s productivity relies on the corridor and it is time for Congress to take a leadership role and invest in the NEC so that its economic vibrancy and impact can be maintained.”

“Three of SEPTA’s highest-ridership Regional Rail routes operate on the Northeast Corridor and Harrisburg Branch. NEC infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement investments in our region – made possible by the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair program – will improve service for SEPTA’s 35 million annual Regional Rail customers. It is essential that all formula and discretionary grant programs are funded at FAST Act levels, and we are grateful for Congressman Costello’s efforts to secure investment in the region’s rail infrastructure,” said Jeffrey D. Knueppel, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)