From Durham Mayor Bill Bell and Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz, chair and vice chair of the N.C. Metropolitan Mayors Coalition:
Very recently, the debate about rail modernization and North Carolina’s share of federal funding has been derailed. Critics want to reject the $461 million in federal stimulus funding for rail projects because they argue it will not greatly reduce travel time. But on behalf of the mayors representing North Carolina’s 27 largest cities, we are urging state leaders to consider the consequence of turning down this critical funding.
Accepting federal grant monies for investment in the state’s rail system is about creating jobs, addressing future transportation congestion and maintaining and building infrastructure our state needs to attract businesses. Our state’s population is expected to grow by 4 million by 2030. If we fail to invest now, passenger and freight rail travel will be far more delayed.
Utilizing the federal funding will allow for expansions and improvements along the railroad corridor between Raleigh and Charlotte. Much of the investment will directly affect safety – separating crossings and eliminating places where trains and automobiles could collide. The funding will also help expand the capacity for both passenger and freight rail with additional tracks – accommodating future growth for new riders and businesses shipping their goods by rail.
Rail ridership continues to grow in North Carolina, and with more frequency and options, additional people will want to travel by rail. In 2010, rail ridership increased by 15 percent – double the national average. Additional passenger trains and increased train frequency give motorists more options for travel by getting drivers from behind the wheel and off the roads.
There are 4,800 direct jobs related to the planning, design and construction of the proposed rail improvements and, according to the NC Associated General Contractors, direct and indirect jobs could total as many as 15,000. These are private sector jobs – not jobs within the government. This isn’t an expansion of big government. This is an expansion of the wallets, savings accounts and grocery bags for nearly 5,000 workers in our state. This is stimulus at work.
And while some critics of the federal funding seem eager to turn down the money for their own communities, we aren’t. We know that many of our citizens would appreciate the jobs and added options for travel. We understand that adding more passenger trains creates opportunities to build or expand stations, grow businesses around the stations and attract new businesses related to both passenger and freight rail.
Bottom line, it would be a mistake to reject this money. It takes years to plan and construct these rail projects, and already the U.S. is behind the times. Will the better time come when we more desperately need expanded rail infrastructure, but there’s no pot of money? Rejecting this funding will not allow our state to use the money for roads and it also won’t change the fact that we still need to invest in our rail system.
We say look forward. Start addressing needs now while we have this window and available funding. It’s obvious that if we reject this funding, another state will only seize on our mistake.
For The Record offers commentaries from various sources. The views are the writer’s, and not necessarily those of the Observer editorial board.
Posted: Friday, Apr. 08, 2011
