SpeakUP for Wake County's future!

North Carolina's share of federally approved high-speed rail funding is in danger! Members of the NC General Assembly have attempted to place the brakes on federally funded passenger rail projects in NC by introducing a bill (H422, sponsored by Rep. Killian and Frye) that will stall high-speed rail by requiring all federal investments in our state to go through an extensive legislative approval process. NC risks losing over $500 million for high speed rail!

Please speakUP TODAY and let Triangle legislators know that high-speed rail is critical to the Triangle communities, for our state's mobility, for future economic investment, and for job growth across our state.

Tell them that you support high-speed rail and strongly oppose House Bill 422.  For you convenience, you may cut and paste the letter below into your email body:

 

Dear Triangle Members of the NC General Assembly,

I am a Triangle resident who supports improved transportation options in my community and North Carolina. I write today to ask you to please OPPOSE H422, legislation that could block federal funding of over $500 million for high-speed passenger rail for our state.

High-speed rail investment has the potential to stimulate our economy by bringing over 4,800 new jobs to our state and encouraging economic development around train stations. New high-speed rail infrastructure wil be funded nearly 100% by the federal government and will bring our state into the 21st century. Please speak up against H422, because it sends the wrong message at the wrong time for our economy by stalling or potentially gutting critical high-speed rail projects underway across our state.

Concerns have arisen surrounding the potential impact on freight rail. These concerns are false. Federal dollars awarded to NC for the high-speed rail corridor are almost entirely for track capacity improvements that will ensure that passenger trains co-operate with freight trains AND will in fact help freight service by providing extra capacity for freight rail growth. $545 million awarded to NC for track improvements in the NCRR Raleigh-Charlotte corridor will benefit the NCRR's sole and exclusive lessee, the Norfolk Southern Railway, as much or more than it will facilitate the movement of passenger trains on the route.

I encourage you to please oppose House Bill 422!

Sincerely,

***YOUR NAME HERE***

 

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