Letter to James Simpson, Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, Re: FTA Rail Study

Letter

Letter to James Simpson, Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, Re: FTA Rail Study

Durbin and Obama Join Bipartisan Group of Senators in Calling for FTA Rail Study

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today were joined by a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on the Federal Transit Administration to conduct a study to determine the infrastructure needs of America's largest rail transit systems. The study is intended to provide funding recommendations on what is needed to bring these rail lines up to a state of good repair. A request for this rail study was included in this year's Senate Transportation Appropriations bill.

In today's letter, the Senators wrote: "Unfortunately, the demands of increased ridership and aging infrastructure along our largest rail transit lines are preventing us from achieving the full economic, environmental, and congestion relief benefits of these existing systems. As we begin to consider the next transportation bill, it is important to have a full accounting of what it will take to bring these older rail transit systems to a state of good repair."

Cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia estimate their capital needs in the billions of dollars for rail lines that are 100 years old in some cities. For example, in Chicago, the average rail car is 23 years old, and nearly one-third exceeds the 25-year maximum recommended by federal authorities. The Chicago Transit Authority estimates that it needs more than $8.7 billion to fix or replace track, bridges, signal and stations as well as to buy new trains in order reach a state of good repair.

Other Senators signing on to today's letter include: Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN), Robert Casey (D-PA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), John Kerry (D-MA), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Arlen Specter (R-PA).

The text of the letter appears below:

December 7, 2007

The Honorable James Simpson
Administrator
Federal Transit Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave. SE
4th & 5th Floors - East Building
Washington, DC 20590

Dear Administrator Simpson:

We are writing to request that the FTA conduct a study to determine the infrastructure needs of our country's largest rail transit systems. The country's ten largest transit agencies facilitate almost 5.5 billion passenger trips every year. Most of these trips take place along aging rail that are in dire need of capital investment. Cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and others estimate their capital needs in the billions of dollars for rail lines that are 100 years old in some cities.

This aging rail infrastructure is not keeping up with demand. There were 78 million more trips taken on public transit during the first six months of 2007 compared to the same time last year. Heavy, light, and commuter rail carried the most passengers and had the largest percentage increases in ridership over this time.

Unfortunately, the demands of increased ridership and aging infrastructure along our largest rail transit lines are preventing us from achieving the full economic, environmental, and congestion relief benefits of these existing systems. As we begin to consider the next transportation bill, it is important to have a full accounting of what it will take to bring these older rail transit systems to a state of good repair.

During consideration of the FY 2008 Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill, the Senate adopted an amendment that directed FTA to study and determine the state of our oldest and largest rail transit systems. This study also included an analysis of the federal investment into rail modernization and asked the FTA to report back with funding recommendations to bring these rail lines up to a state of good repair.

The damage to the livability and economic viability of our urban areas would be severe if our rail transit systems are allowed to deteriorate. Understanding the scope of what it will take to modernize our rail transit infrastructure will allow us to plan for the future and ensure that workers, employers, students, and senior citizens can have a clean, efficient, and inexpensive mass transportation system that will keep us competitive in the global economy.

Sincerely,

Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator

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