All Aboard Wisconsin Train Day News Conference

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 9, 2015

Text of statement by Craig Peach, State Director for the Transportation Division of the Sheet
Metal Air Rail Transportation Workers:.
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In communities around the nation, transit systems ease traffic congestion, connect people with
jobs and opportunities, and save consumers billions of dollars every year in commuting costs.
We understand that Public transportation like AMTRAK helps move the economy for the benefit
of all Americans. Public investment in our nations passenger rail system is truly an investment
in our states future.
Passenger rail is a critical part of our national transportation infrastructure, an important driver of
our national and regional economies, and is a middle-class job creator. Amtrak is Americas
passenger railroad, rising up from the ashes from the framework of bankrupt private service
providers and charged with providing vital rail passenger service across America.
AMTRAK carried a record number of passengers in Fiscal Year 2013, and has set ridership
records in 10 of the last 11 years.
The Federal role in investing in our rail passenger system must be strong. However, we
recognize that the investment needs of our passenger rail system must be met in partnership
with individual states like Wisconsin and other states where appropriate.
In a recent Wisconsin Survey on Amtrak, Wisconsin residents strongly support SMART
Transportation Division (SMART TD) legislative priorities: funding of Amtrak at current levels or
higher. The support levels found in the Wisconsin survey are consistent with results from
thirteen 2013-14 Amtrak surveys in states and congressional districts throughout Middle
America. The Wisconsin survey was conducted between May 8 and May 16 and has a margin
of error of +3.8 percentage points.
Key findings on Amtrak include:

Eighty-five percent of residents would like to see daily passenger rail service remain the
same (35%) or increase (50%) from current service in Wisconsin. Support level is
highest among those under age 65, residents of Milwaukee and Dane counties, and
likely votes in the 2014 election.

Almost three-in-four (72%) residents support the idea of additional train service between
the cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago. Women, residents between the ages of
18-39, Milwaukee County residents, and self-identified Democrats show the strongest
support levels for additional service; support is widespread among all demographic
groupings, with even 67 percent of non-Amtrak passengers supporting additional
passenger rail service.

Only 16 percent of residents favor eliminating Amtrak funding (with another four percent
in favor of reducing funding), even when told the federal government subsidizes Amtrak
by over one billion dollars per year. Seven-in-ten favor funding at the current level or
greater defined in order to produce reliable regional partnerships.
(end)