Amtrak: Private Dollars Will Follow Taxpayer Funding
Amtrak wants to upgrade its operations along the Northeast Corridor and bring about true high speed rail. But, the railroad made it clear public money will be needed to fund upgrades to the 457-mile-long corridor, which could cost taxpayers upwards of $151 billion and take as long as 30 years to complete. While annual revenues of $1 billion or more could ultimately lead to private investment, that is likely to come after taxpayers pony up the dollars to fund improvements, Amtrak President and CEO Joe Boardman said in testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “International experience