Strengthening Infrastructure
Traffic congestion is at critical levels in many U.S. cities, and while the U.S. Department of Transportation is actively promoting public-private partnerships like the National Gateway, railroads are the only mode of transportation not significantly funded by the government.
The number of production jobs in the U.S. has decreased 13 percent in the last 10 years, while the population has continued to grow. This means that while fewer products are made in the U.S., more consumers are creating an increased demand for goods. The nation’s ports and freight transportation industry are feeling the strain, and we must find ways to increase capacity to serve the needs of consumers throughout the country.
These projected increases in domestic and international freight transportation call for a strong rail infrastructure with increased capacity. The ability to quickly and efficiently move goods to markets throughout the country is vital to the economy. Double-stack trains are the best way to increase capacity without flooding rail lines with additional trains.