Building Inter-Metropolitan Rail Corridors
Policy Forum
February 21, 2006
John M. Clayton Conference Center
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Enhanced podcast of forum 
IPA organized a policy forum in February 2006 to focus on the status and future of inter-metropolitan transportation corridors and the critical role of their rail components. This forum was part of IPA’s longer-term agenda of research on and fostering awareness of the importance of rail transportation as a key element in the movement of people and goods in the 21st century at the national, state, regional, and local levels in the United States.
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| Senator Carper |
David L. Gunn |
James P. RePass |
Rail corridors experts, including James P. RePass, Chairman and CEO of The National Corridors Initiative, and former Amtrak head David L. Gunn, presented their views of the current state of rail transportation in the U.S. and opined on its future. U.S. Senator Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) opened up the forum by speaking of the need for long-term sustainable support in favor of passenger rail.
A summary report was subsequently published in August 2006.
Also see Interurban Rail Transportation: Moving People and Goods in the 21st Century
Speakers
- Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) spoke of the need for long-term sustainable support in favor of passenger rail.
- Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue (Department of Economics and Geography, Hofstra University) encouraged the audience to view corridors as a multi-modal vehicle and believes highway usage in the 21st century will not decline, but will be complemented by an increase in rail usage.
- Howard Learner (Environmental Law & Policy Center) chronicled the efforts of nine midwestern state DOTs collaborating with Amtrak to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed Midwest Regional Rail System.
- Eugene Skoropowski (Capital Corridor Joint Powers Authority), who helped lead California’s Capital Corridor to new highs in popularity and reliability, presented data on its success and offered it as a model for other systems.
- Thomas Till (Cascadia Center) presented the history of the Cascades service and called for a long-term state–federal partnership to fund passenger rail.
- Dr. Allison L. C. de Cerreño (Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management, New York University) presented case studies on successful and failed attempts to implement high-speed regional rail corridors.
- James P. RePass (The National Corridors Initiative) expressed his concerns over the disinvestments in Amtrak that could hurt America.
- David L. Gunn (former Amtrak President) explained how national transportation policy is causing the loss of mobility of both freight and passengers.
The forum was co-sponsored by IPA and The National Corridors Initiative with support from DelDOT and the Wilmington Metropolitan Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO).
For more information, contact Robert Warren (302-831-1686).
