Amtrak announced Thursday that it is beginning work to expand intercity passenger rail service to over 160 more communities by 2035.
Part of its Amtrak Corridor Vision released Thursday, the expansion would provide service to 20 million more passengers, the railroad company said.
“Now is the time to invest in our country’s infrastructure and future,” said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. “New and improved rail service has the ability to change how our country moves and provides cleaner air, less traffic, and a more connected country.”
The plan would be implemented in collaboration with states, local communities, the administration, and other stakeholders and builds upon Amtrak’s national network, integrating new and improved corridors to expand the existing system.
The Rail Passengers Association applauded Amtrak’s plan to expand by adding 39 new routes and enhancing 25 existing corridors.
“This plan provides a realistic blueprint for expanding access to modern, energy efficient passenger train service to 20 million additional Americans each year by 2035,” said Rail Passengers President & CEO Jim Mathews. “It’s critical that Congress take the necessary steps to support a strong rail program in any infrastructure bill. That means predictable and dedicated funding; a mechanism for ensuring that passengers get to their stations on time, free from freight train interference; and a streamlined process for launching new corridors.”
The plan would create 39 new routes and more trips or other enhancements on 25 existing routes, creating the potential to expand or improve services for 20 million additional passengers each year. The plan calls for improving service to currently underserved cities like Houston, Atlanta, and Cincinnati, while providing new intercity passenger rail to Las Vegas, Nashville, Columbus, Phoenix, and Wichita, with increased access for towns and cities in between.
While Amtrak estimated that the expansion cost would be about $5 billion per year over the next 15 years, or $175 billion, the company also estimated that the economic impact would be significantly higher. Amtrak said it expects to see an economic impact of $195 billion, generating more than 26,000 ongoing permanent jobs, plus 616,000 person-years of employment created or supported between 2021 and 2035.
“The American people have waited long enough for a sustainable, world-class intercity passenger rail network,” Flynn said in a letter to Congress. “Congress could pass legislation today to start making Amtrak’s vision a reality: create a Corridor Development Program, pass the Intercity Passenger Rail Trust Fund Act and Rail Passenger Fairness Act, and clarify the law to ensure fair access to host railroads for Amtrak growth.”