HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-02-2010 - 4gORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 2, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No.
SUBJECT: Letter Supportin Continued Federal Fundin for Southeast Hi h Speed Rail
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Letter of Support Karen Lincoln, 245-2594
2. List of Federal and State Officials Craig Benedict, 245-2592
PURPOSE: To consider authorizing the Chair to sign a letter supporting continued Federal
funding through annual budgetary appropriations to accelerate the Southeast High Speed Rail
corridor south of Washington, DC.
BACKGROUND: The Federal Rail Administration, on January 28, 2010, awarded North
Carolina $545 million dollars for improvements for the Charlotte-Raleigh-Richmond-Washington
D.C. corridor. The funding will be used primarily to increase speed (up to 90 miles per hour)
and frequencies (4 frequencies per day) on the Raleigh to Charlotte passenger rail service. The
State intends to continue to pursue grants for additional improvements in this corridor, such as
improvements in Orange County associated with a planned 5th frequency of the passenger rail
service between Raleigh and Charlotte.
The draft letter (Attachment 1) thanks President Barack Obama for support of high speed rail
and North Carolina's $545 million allocation of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds,
and requests the federal government's continued support for high speed rail with annual
budgetary appropriations. The attached list of addressees (Attachment 2) includes the
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of
Transportation officials, U.S. Senators representing North Carolina, Congressmen representing
the Triangle region of North Carolina, and North Carolina Congressmen serving on the
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to the County with this action item.
RECOMMENDATION (S): The Manager recommends the Board authorize the Chair to sign the
letter supporting continued federal funding for high speed rail to accelerate the Southeast High
Speed Rail corridor south of Washington, DC.
Attachment 1 2
March 2, 2010
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20050
Dear President Obama:
Thank you for your commitment to developing a high speed rail vision for America. The high
speed rail corridor from Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC will be a catalyst for development of
commuter rail service for the Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina. Orange County
thanks you for supporting North Carolina's application for high speed rail funding from the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with a $545 million allocation of federal recovery
funds, and strongly supports continued investment through annual budgetary appropriations to
accelerate the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor south of Washington, DC, and help realize
your vision of a high speed rail future for America.
North Carolina's sustained focus on high speed rail in cooperation with Virginia is demonstrated
by a completed Tier I environmental record of decision for the entire 450 mile corridor from
Charlotte to Washington, DC and the recent submittal of a preliminary Tier II application for the
section from Raleigh to Richmond. In addition, our state has developed solid partnerships with
two Class I railroads and has invested more than $300 million in stations, equipment, and
passenger operations in the past decade alone.
Our state's efforts in preparing for high speed rail have resulted in unanimous, bipartisan support
from our congressional delegation for our state's application for ARRA funding. Leaders from
across the state recognize that the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor will provide travelers with
a competitive alternative to air and automobile trips between Washington and the southeastern
United States, ease the rate of congestion growth along the I-95/I-85 corridor, improve safety and
energy effectiveness, and enhance air quality.
North Carolina is committed, focused, and ready for high speed rail, and has a proven track
record of performance. We applaud your efforts at creating a sustainable transportation future for
our nation and we encourage your support for continued funding for high speed rail. We also ask
for your support for funding North Carolina's applications for future grant opportunities for
additional improvements in the Charlotte-Raleigh-Richmond-Washington D.C. corridor.
Sincerely,
<signature>
Valerie Foushee, Chair
Orange County Board of County Commissioners
cc: Ray LaHood, Secretary, USDOT
Eugene Conti, Jr., Secretary, NCDOT
Charlie Grady, Office of the Secretary, NCDOT
Pat Simmons, Director, Rail Division, NCDOT
Joe Milazzo II, PE, Regional Transportation Alliance
Attachment 2 3
List of Addressees
TO:
President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20050
CC:
Secretary Ray LaHood
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
North Carolina Department of Transportation Officials
Secretary Gene Conti, Jr.
NC Department of Transportation
1501 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1501
Charlie Grady
Special Assistant to the Secretary
NC Department of Transportation
1501 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1501
Pat Simmons
Director, Rail Division
NC Department of Transportation
1553 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1553
Senators representing North Carolina
Senator Richard Burr
217 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Fax: (202) 228-2981
Senator Kay Hagan
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Fax: (202) 228-2563
Attachment 2 4
List of Addressees
Congressmen representing the Triangle region of North Carolina
Representative David Price
2162 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-2014
Representative Bob Etheridge
1533 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-5662
Representative Brad Miller
1127 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-0181
Congressmen from North Carolina
serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Representative Howard Coble
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 225-8611
Representative Heath Shuler
422 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Fax: (202) 226-6422