My recent trip/experience on Amtrak has led to these conclusions and concerns: lack of management insight, lack of federal government vision of transportation, and concern for security of rail travel.
Every Amtrak employee I encountered was courteous, helpful and passionate about their job. But they were mostly apologetic for the station conditions, delays and lack of Amtrak management’s response to these issues.
Amtrak should be the best and most convenient travel method across Pennsylvania, and into larger cities, and then expanded. Financially, upgrading the existing rail system to higher speed would be less expensive than upgrading a highway system, because much of the infrastructure is in place. The movie phrase “If you build it, (they) will come,” holds true of the transit system in Pennsylvania. The rail system is begging for improvement.
It makes sense from environmental, energy efficiency and financial standpoints to upgrade and make this a priority in the first phase of any infrastructure plan. Security should be a priority. Pennsylvania should be the showcase to the nation of what travel will look like in the future.
Government should quit wasting taxpayer money on a failed system and start using it to build the future of transportation in Pennsylvania and all of the USA.
Robert Pennline
Mt. Pleasant