24 Members of Congress Express Support For North Atlantic Rail

Published on June 03, 2021

HARTFORD, CONN (June 3, 2021) – Mayor Luke Bronin today issued the statement below after twenty-four members of Congress from New England sent a letter yesterday to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure making the case for North Atlantic Rail, a regional network of high speed and high performance rail service connecting smaller cities throughout all six New England states and New York, including a new 100-minute rail service from Boston to New York.  Mayor Bronin was named Co-Chair of the North Atlantic Rail Alliance earlier this year. 

North Atlantic Rail’s vision is to drive jobs and economic opportunity throughout the region with a 21st century rail-enabled growth strategy, taking on climate change with a more sustainable, resilient, efficient rail network, and ensuring the region gets its fair share of federal infrastructure investment.

“This is a powerful expression of support from dozens of members of congress from the New England delegation, and we’re grateful for their vision and strong support,” said Mayor Bronin.  “As the Members make clear in their letter, North Atlantic Rail is about building a modern, environmentally-responsible transportation network for New England and downstate New York.  And beyond that, it’s a strategy for growing jobs, expanding housing opportunity, and creating an integrated market for talent, ideas and employment throughout the region.  If we’re serious about competing economically, and if we’re serious about taking climate action, then we need to be serious about building 21st century rail networks like this.”

“North Atlantic Rail will create high quality infrastructure jobs, address climate change, revitalize historic towns and cities, and keep the United States competitive in the global community,” said Steve Bellone, County Executive of Suffolk County, N.Y., and co-chair of the North Atlantic Rail Alliance.  “Supporters and leaders of North Atlantic Rail would like to express our deep appreciation to these 24 Members of Congress for their advocacy and backing for this exciting and transformational project. Their support for the creation of the NAR Corporation adds to the growing momentum for fulfilling the North Atlantic Rail vision.”

“This is a once in a century opportunity to embrace a truly transformative infrastructure investment. The time is now for such a bold action,” said Doug McGarrah, chairman of A Better City in Boston and the third co-chair of the NAR Alliance.

Members of Congress signing the letter include:

  • Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA1), Ways and Means Committee chair
  • Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY12), Oversight Committee chair
  • Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA2), Rules Committee chair
  • Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY5), Foreign Affairs Committee chair
  • Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA5), Assistant Speaker
  • Rep. John Larson (D-CT1)
  • Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI2)
  • Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA8)
  • Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT, at large)
  • Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT4)
  • Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME1)
  • Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI1)
  • Rep. William Keating (D-MA9)
  • Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH2)
  • Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY6)
  • Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA6)
  • Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY4) 
  • Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3)
  • Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT5)
  • Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH1)
  • Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA7)
  • Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA3)
  • Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA4)
  • Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY15)
Tagged as: