May 31, 2021

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Charles Schumer U.S. Senate Majority Leader Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 322 Hart Senate Office Building 1236 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy The Honorable Mitch McConnell U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader U.S. Senate Minority Leader 2468 Rayburn House Office Building 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 205010

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy and Leader McConnell:

We write to strongly urge your support for increased, robust funding for intercity passenger rail as part of the infrastructure package. Now is the opportunity to carry out bold investments that will pay dividends for our nation’s long-term infrastructure – investments that will sharpen America’s competitive edge in the world when we most need it.

As Mayors, we know how a cleaner environment and more equitable access to jobs and education depend critically on regional rail connections. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) estimates a quadruple multiplier effect in economic benefits from every dollar invested in passenger rail.

High-speed intercity passenger rail networks in Europe and Asia demonstrate every day the benefits that Americans could enjoy—sustainable, affordable access between communities—if we increase funding sufficiently in intercity rail. And while we applaud President Biden’s inclusion of a stronger investment for passenger rail in the American Jobs Plan, we require a significantly larger investment to meet the scale of our needs from California and the West Coast to the Midwest and on to New England and the South.

These projects share a common set of benefits: creating jobs, relieving traffic congestion, improving air quality, unleashing transit-oriented development, and enabling our nation to invest in its future.

We seek your support, and that of your respective committee chairs, for a robust national program of investment in passenger rail. Thank you for your consideration, and on your leadership on critical infrastructure needs for our nation. Sincerely,

Mayor Sam Liccardo Mayor David Holt Oklahoma City, Oklahoma San Jose, California

Mayor London Breed Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot San Francisco, California Chicago, Illinois

Mayor Harry Sidhu Mayor Jim Brainard Anaheim, California Carmel, Indiana

Mayor Vicente Sarmiento Mayor Lauren McLean Santa Ana, California Boise, Idaho

Mayor LaToya Cantrell Mayor Sylvester Turner New Orleans, Louisiana Houston, Texas

Mayor Jerry Dyer Mayor Darrell Steinberg Fresno, California Sacramento, California

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter Madison, Wisconsin San Leandro, California

Mayor Todd Gloria Mayor Jim Kenney San Diego, California Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Mayor Kate Gallego Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln Phoenix, Arizona Stockton, California

Mayor Eric Garcetti Mayor Libby Schaaf Los Angeles, California Oakland, California

Mayor Robert Garcia Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson Long Beach, California Riverside, California Mayor Luke Bronin Mayor Paul Leon Hartford, Connecticut Ontario, California

Mayor Tom Barrett Mayor Ted Wheeler Milwaukee, Wisconsin Portland, Oregon