Reps. Wayne Schmidt, Ball, Bolger, Constan, Daley, Griffin, Hansen, Robert Jones, Kowall, LeBlanc, Liss, Lori, Mayes, Moore, Pearce, Scripps, Slavens, Smith, Stamas, Tyler and Valentine offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 263.  

A resolution to declare May 8, 2010, as Train Day in the state of Michigan. 

            Whereas, The United States of America has made a considerable financial commitment to expanding the nation’s high-speed and intercity passenger rail (HSIPR) network, appropriating $4 billion last year for both state corridor development efforts and Amtrak state of good repair investments in the FY10 Consolidated Appropriations Act; and

            Whereas, The President and Vice-President announced in January 2010 an additional $8 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) awards for 13 corridors in 31 states; and

            Whereas, The Federal Railroad Administration received applications requesting seven times the available funds for the HSIPR ARRA grants; and

            Whereas, Developing this pipeline of national high-speed and intercity passenger rail projects will revitalize the domestic manufacturing industry and create additional American jobs building on the one million good-paying, middle-class creating American jobs that can never be outsourced already supported by the rail industry; and

            Whereas, Ridership on Amtrak grew every year from 2000 through 2008, and is on track in 2010 for its best ridership year ever, further demonstrating the increased demand for intercity passenger rail services; and 

            Whereas, In highly populated regions, Amtrak trains and infrastructure carry intercity passengers and commuters to and from work in congested metropolitan areas, providing a reliable rail option while reducing congestion on roads and in the skies; and

            Whereas, Amtrak annually provides intercity passenger rail travel to over 25 million Americans residing in 46 states; and

            Whereas, For many rural Americans, Amtrak represents the only major intercity transportation link to the rest of the country; and

            Whereas, Passenger rail provides a more fuel-efficient transportation system thereby providing cleaner transportation alternatives and energy security; and

            Whereas, When combined with all modes of transportation, passenger railroads emit only 0.2 percent of the travel industry’s total greenhouse gases and one freight train can move a ton of freight 457 miles on one gallon of fuel; and

            Whereas, In the state of Michigan, 680,224 people got on and off trains in the fiscal year 2009; and

            Whereas, Our railroad stations are a source of civic pride, a gateway to our communities and a tool for economic growth that creates transportation-oriented development and livable communities; and

            Whereas, On May 10, 1869, the “golden spike” was driven into the final tie at Promontory Summit, Utah to join the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific Railroads, ceremonially completing the first transcontinental railroad and therefore connecting both coasts of the United States; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare May 8, 2010, as Train Day in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That we recognize and celebrate the pivotal role that a robust intercity passenger rail system can provide for better mobility for persons of all abilities; and be it further

Resolved, That we hold events at our stations for our communities to commemorate this momentous day in railroad history and for our communities.