with passenger rail service and to see those numbers climb even more. The final stop for the Rail Response meetings, held at the restored and majestic Salisbury historic train depot in October, was perhaps the most dramatic. With local news cameras rolling, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner arrived by train as the meeting got underway. “We are going to be investing the most that we have ever invested in the network,” Gardner told attendees. “We are here to support your vision.” He also discussed the importance of efforts like Rail Response. “I want to say how important it is for communities to come together and express how important this is, not only to NCDOT but to your legislators,” Gardner said. While Gardner’s participation in the final meeting may have provided fireworks, all five events attracted key community support. All saw local mayors or others writing in their local newspapers about the importance of the effort. All included key community partners like local chambers of commerce. The effort should pay dividends as the process of intercity passenger rail expansion moves forward across the country and grants are awarded for that expanded service. The effort should pay dividends as the process of intercity passenger rail expansion moves forward across the country and grants are awarded for that expanded service. We are going to be investing the most that we have ever invested in the network. We are here to support your vision. I want to say how important it is for communities to come together and express how important this is, not only to NCDOT but to your legislators. » Stephen Gardner, CEO, Amtrak continued from page 11 League Update: Passenger Rail Expansion Stephen Gardner, Amtrack CEO NCLM.ORG 13
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