Burlington Free Press
Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger joins push for regional high-speed rail line
The North Atlantic Rail plan aims to create a high-speed line that cuts train travel between New York and Boston down to 100 minutes. Benefits of the initiative, which would cost $105 billion, include jobs, economic transformation and congestion relief, according to its website. The service would connect spots throughout New York and New England — including Burlington and Brattleboro.
"Proud to join some of the region’s great mayors calling for federal action on the North Atlantic Rail initiative," Miro Weinberger tweeted Monday.
The Burlington mayor and other city leaders in New England — including Jorge Elorza of Providence, Rhode Island, and Joyce Craig of Manchester, New Hampshire — shared their support for the project in The Boston Globe.
"Reliable, extensive high-speed rail is not a pie-in-the-sky idea," the leaders said in the piece. "The rest of the world has already done it."
The project would take about two decades to complete and — assuming the North Atlantic Rail Corporation is authorized — would involve a partnership with Amtrak and other agencies.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., signed a letter sent to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure earlier this month asking the committee to consider authorizing the corporation.
Maleeha Syed Burlington Free Press