Conference Vice President New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial convened a special Mayors' Summit on "A National Rail Policy for the 21st Century" January 17 to launch the Conference's 69th Winter Meeting in Washington, DC.

"The time has come to increase our investment in our rail infrastructure and build out the third leg of our nation's transportation system," Morial told the more than 300 mayors, federal officials, transportation experts and other guests at the event, which was held in the East Hall of Washington's historic Union Station.

"We need to invest in high speed intercity rail services connecting our metropolitan areas, and commuter rail, light rail and trolley projects within these areas, to keep our metro economic engines producing for all Americans," Morial said.

Led by Morial, the Mayors' Rail Summit gave further definition to a Conference priority, which was first set forth by Conference President Boise Mayor H. Brent Coles in June at the Annual Meeting in Seattle. Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott and London Mayor Ken Livingstone joined with Morial, Coles and other Conference leaders at the Summit, speaking to the most pressing issues before the new Administration and Congress in advancing a rail investment agenda.

Amtrak President and CEO George D. Warrington and Greyhound Lines, Inc. President and CEO Craig Lentzsch also delivered remarks at the Summit. Afterwards, mayors and other guests boarded America's new high speed train - Amtrak's Acela Express - for a round trip to Baltimore.

Mayors' Vision for Rail in America

Conference President Coles told the Summit participants, "what we need in America is a National Rail Policy for the 21st Century."

In setting forth the mayors' vision, Coles said, "America needs to take this issue up at this time when we have the resources to invest."

"Mayors are the right messengers," he said, before reciting statistics on how much of the nation's airports, road and transit systems are operated or overseen by mayors. "We understand transportation. That is why it is right for mayors to take on this responsibility to be partners with Congress, the next Administration, and with private entrepreneurs, to rebuild and to put into place this third leg of our inter-modal system."

Coles gave examples of mayors who have been spearheading major commitments to rail infrastructure, be it commuter or light rail systems, trolleys, or rail station redevelopment.

"There is an energy to this issue. The time is right. We need to move this nation past the highway and a limited view of transit. This is about making rail a critical part of our strategy and it is about building stronger communities," Coles said.

Mayors' Recommendations

Chronicling the mayors' efforts, Coles talked about the Chicago transition team meetings in July, the Boise Leadership Meeting in September and the subsequent work of the Conference's rail restoration transition team, which was led by Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays.

Coles detailed the key elements of the mayors' agenda, which first calls for a stronger commitment to the nation's inter-city rail network, with a focus on high speed rail, accelerated investment in metropolitan rail infrastructure (i.e. heavy rail, light rail and commuter rail), and new incentives to stimulate increased private sector participation. Coles read, "finally, greater emphasis must be given to an overall national rail policy, which should include as initial commitments: 1) enactment of high speed bond legislation based upon S.1900 from the 106h Congress; and 2) new funding for fixed guideway projects, advanced bus technology, transit and community revitalization efforts, station revitalization and rural access."

In concluding his address, Coles said, "This is a great forum, and I thank Mayor Morial and the focus on this issue, that we might put together a policy with Senator Trent Lott, the Speaker of the House and the new Administration that we can go together and build a national rail system."

Lott Backs National Rail System

Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott told the mayors that "We are going to have a ÔNational Rail Policy for the 21st Century.' It begins here, today, at this meeting in Washington, DC."

Lott addressed the mayors on the agenda of the 107th Congress, with a particular emphasis on rail infrastructure investment. In discussing last year's effort to pass the high speed rail investment bill, Lott said, "This year the Congress will pass a major new Amtrak program, the bill [high speed rail bond bill] that was referred to earlier. We've have got to do that."

Explaining his overall view on a national rail system, Lott said, "I think we a need a National Rail Passenger System. Will it be cheap? No, but we can do this. We can't serve every community, every city in all of America, but there can be a plan and it can be national. We can make it work."

He also emphasized that Amtrak must be given a fair chance to succeed. "We have got to give it (Amtrak) a chance to work, and provide it a way to make ends meet. Maybe not show a profit, but pay its own way. But we've got to give it time to do that. That is why the bill we worked on last year and its bonding system is part of making it work because you have capital needs that you are going to have to address," he said.

Sharing his broad vision for rail transportation, Lott said, "We can provide this system, a good Amtrak system, a national passenger rail system, and make it a responsible program that basically pays its own way. We've got to have the high speed intercity system that Mayor Morial and others talked about. We have got to have them integrated with the intercity bus and other transit systems and light rail systems. We have got to have the intermodal terminals.

"And you've got to do your part as mayors. The federal government is not going to pay for it all. It isn't going to do it. But we can come together and have private investment. The cities can do their part. The counties can do their part. The states can do their part. And, the federal government should and will do its part. I can guarantee you that," he said.

Lott also discussed his intention to develop a specific program to move freight lines out of the heart of cities, stating, "We need a federal program to do this."

In responding to a question about rail systems and the need for public funding support, Lott said, "Just like waster and sewer systems, it is something that you have to provide."

Completing Washington's Metro

Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams welcomed mayors to the Summit and talked about the recent completion of the rail program serving the Washington, DC region, bringing to fruition a plan that was first set forth in 1968. "Last Saturday, we celebrated the completion of Metro's 103-mile rail system," Williams said.

He also singled out the development potential that rail investment brings. " We think that each metro stop can be a new source of economic vitality." He told the mayors that "I want to do anything I can to support this rail transportation agenda."

London Mayor Touts U.S. Rail Renaissance

The newly-elected Mayor of London Ken Livingstone discussed the many challenges of rail transportation in England and offered observations on rail developments here in the U.S. "There seems to be a renaissance in rail transportation in the U.S. There is a new interest in tapping the potential of high speed intercity rail," he said.

In discussing America's approach to transportation policy, Livingstone said, "The U.S. has for most of this century operated on the misconception that rail transport had been bypassed by the motor car and air travel." He added that "the experience of Britain, Continental Europe and Japan demonstrates that this view is quite wrong. Urban centers can be more sustainable planned on the basis of public transport, and high speed rail between cities can be competitive with car and air travel."

Commenting specifically on the Mayors' Summit, he said, "the debate in the U.S., as we have already heard today, is going toward the greater exploitation of rail transit, with more than 200 projects in various stages of development for metro rail systems. There is more interest today in rail projects than at any other point in U.S. history."

Reporting on the status of rail efforts in England, Livingstone said, "for months, public transport have been at the top of the political agenda." He explained that given the failure of earlier rail privatization efforts coupled with increasing traffic congestion, there is a renewed emphasis on investing in intercity and local rail systems. "Given the problem of growing road traffic congestion, our government plans a further large scale expansion of the rail industry, with a $90 billion, ten-year program," Livingstone said.

He explained how London is again growing in population and the increasing demands on the transportation system, particularly from auto traffic, is a serious problem. He explained his proposals to add three new tube lines over the next fifteen years and to seek an auto charge of $8 per day to enter the downtown London area. He noted that the resources from this charge, which are estimated at more than $300 million annually, would be invested in public transport.

Mayors Share View on Rail Benefits

Following these keynote addresses and a special video presentation, Morial engaged a number of mayors in a dialogue on the benefits of rail investment and asked them to provide their visions for rail transport in their regions.

San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Jr. said that his City is "headed toward a unified rail policy. Rail must become a full partner in the 21st Century, and in San Francisco, we are trying to make this happen."

Mayor Shirley Dean described how the region's rail system, BART, had fueled the prosperity of the City of Berkeley, explaining how this investment has brought thousands of jobs and commuters to her city despite the fact that land is no longer available for parking and space is at a premium.

The Conference's Transportation Committee Chair and Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell said, "employers are now making decisions to locate along the nodes on our rail system. We must break this insatiable appetite for one person per car." He also said, "as more people get on the rails, we are going to see greater growth in our cities."

Past President Denver Mayor Wellington E. Webb said the challenge for mayors is "to change the context of discussion about rail." He pointed out that in the Denver area, the use of its light rail system has exceeded projections.

In Tulsa, Mayor M. Susan Savage noted that even though her city is large geographically, there is a limit to how much land can be used for highways and that her community is focusing on the potential of rail as a long term effort.

Discussing the challenges of moving a rail agenda forward, Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory emphasized that "our major challenge is at the state level." He also added that "doing the right land use planning with rail investment is crucial."

Advisory Board Chair and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, "this [rail agenda] is something that is different and something that is needed. We must stay focused on this issue."

The leaders of the Conference's Rail Restoration Transition Team also offered their insights on what mayors can do to further this agenda. Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith, who was recognized throughout the Summit for his national leadership on rail issues, told the mayors that "there are many actions you can take to grow ridership on existing Amtrak routes. North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays that "we [mayors] need to make rail investment the top priority for state and federal policy-makers."

Macomb Mayor Thomas C. Carper talked about his efforts as chair of Amtrak's Mayors Advisory Council, announcing the establishment of the Amtrak Mayors Network to help mayors get more involved in helping grow the Amtrak system and strengthen its service to communities.

Greyhound CEO Shares Intermodal Vision

Craig Lentzsch, the President and CEO of Greyhound Lines, Inc., offered his vision for a future. "Today, as always, connections are the key to successful transportation. And, there are no better places to make those connections than at intermodal facilities," he said.

He also talked about how Amtrak and Greyhound are partnering "to make intermodalism work," noting that Greyhound now operates out of 100 intermodal facilities, with more in the planning and construction phases.

Warrington Thanks Mayors for Leadership

Amtrak CEO and President George D. Warrington expressed his appreciation for the commitment and leadership of the nation's mayors in advancing the national debate on rail investment. "Today you have come to Union Station and put everyone on notice that restoring America's passenger rail is a matter of high importance. It really is a matter of national interest."

Pointing out that America is "facing an unprecedented transportation crisis," Warrington said. "The mayors of America has turned to passenger rail transportation for relief."

He also said, "I promise you this: Amtrak will continue to work with you, the mayors."