While the Staggers Act of 1980 is rightfully credited with helping the once threatened railroad industry become profitable again, it has also led to significant consolidation and downsizing of America's railroad network. Meanwhile, commuter railroads have blossomed in this period, and are a major success story in the railroad industry. Let's start with ridership. Mr. Chairman, the latest numbers are in, and they prove that more and more people are choosing public transportation. Clearly, when people are given a choice, many will choose to ride quality rail transportation.
Significant growth is projected for the future.
New commuter rail systems are in various stages of development in Nashville, Anchorage, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Houston, Charlotte, and Portland. Worth, Seattle, and Miami and others are planned by almost every other system. Certainly, it will require a partnership among communities, freight railroads, and, I believe, federal and state governments as well. APTA is interested in supporting a broader agenda to foster the growth of railroads. Historically, America's rail corridors have been used for both freight and passenger purposes.