As Mississippi faces the unique challenges of the 21st century, we must consider how we are to retain and attract our best and brightest. The status quo is not working, so we must look to innovative ways to make Mississippi where future generations want to live, work, and play.
A modern, 21st century transportation system is a must for Mississippi to continue to be economically competitive in the Gulf Coast region and nationally. One mode of transportation will not make Mississippi an attractive choice for advanced technology jobs, professionals, or tourists. A true multimodal system comprised of air, road, and passenger rail, with easy connections to get travelers to and from their homes and businesses will guarantee Mississippi will continue to be in consideration for future business, industry, and tourists, alike.
Mississippi is currently on two of Amtrak’s long-distance routes – the Crescent from New Orleans to New York with stops in Picayune, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Meridian; and the City of New Orleans from New Orleans to Chicago with stops in McComb, Brookhaven, Hazlehurst, Jackson, Yazoo City, Greenwood, and in 2018, Marks. The Southern Rail Commission has been instrumental in restoration efforts to return service along the Gulf Coast that was suspended after Hurricane Katrina in 2005; Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) station improvement grants have already been awarded to Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula totaling over $1 million. Additionally a service route between Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth along I-20 is being explored that would add a stop in Vicksburg.
Some people say we can’t afford to spend money on “outdated” rail technology. In reality, rail service is affordable when compared with other infrastructure investments. For a quarter of the cost of six-laning Interstate-10 across the 78 miles in Mississippi, the 767-mile rail route between New Orleans and Orlando can be restored. For 25 percent less than the cost of operating Mississippi’s 4 EAS airports each year, that serve approximately 50,000 people (Tupelo, Laurel/Hattiesburg, Greenville, and Meridian), we can operate the Gulf Coast train each year and serve over 150,000 people.
Others say we can’t afford to invest in passenger rail because it doesn’t pay for itself. But no passenger transportation system does when taking into account infrastructure and capital costs, so by that logic we shouldn’t invest in roads or airports, either. Amtrak regularly recovers more than 95 percent of their operating expenses each year without consistent or even guaranteed funding from year-to-year. The airlines—that are left—are posting profits but they don’t pay to build airports, pay for TSA, or pay for Air Traffic Control – your tax dollars do. Roads? Well, they obviously don’t pay for themselves. The Highway Trust Fund is and has been out of money for 10 years with approximately 50 percent of federal highway spending now coming out of the general fund.
No one is advocating stopping the investment in Mississippi’s EAS airports or our highways. That investment has been instrumental in attracting the jobs we want to build our 21st century economy on. We must recognize, however, that we can’t stop there.
All three of the passenger transportation systems in the U.S. are at capacity - but population continues to grow, especially in the Gulf Coast region. Our current infrastructure cannot support the expected growth. The most affordable, sustainable, and easily implemented mode of transportation to focus our investment dollars in is passenger rail.
We must look to sustainable and affordable transportation choices for future generations. Amtrak and commuter rail ridership continues to grow each year across the country. Infrastructure investment is a nonpartisan issue all Americans agree we need to tackle and Mississippi can lead the way.
Frankly, we can’t afford not to invest in passenger rail. To do so would mean Mississippi is Closed for Business.
Join the Rail Passengers’ national campaign to build a 21st century rail network by calling your elected officials and asking them to support passenger rail investment in Mississippi and the greater Gulf Coast region. Keep Mississippi Open for Business.
Betsy Nelson
Southern Region Field Liaison
Rail Passengers Association
www.narprail.org
