Posted: | February 2, 2015 10:51 AM |
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From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | National Train Day - May 9, 2015 |
In the near future, I intend to introduce a resolution that would recognize and support “National Train Day” on May 9, 2015. Started in 2008 to educate the public about the rich history of our nation’s trains and the advantages of rail travel, National Train Day is held annually on the Saturday closest to May 10 – the anniversary of the pounding of the Golden Spike in Promontory, Utah, which marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States. The development of rail travel revolutionized the Commonwealth, transforming Pennsylvania into an industrial powerhouse in the region and the country. The Pennsylvania Railroad made the state synonymous with rail travel. Now more than ever, rail travel is an essential part of our transportation infrastructure, helping to reduce congestion on the roads and in the skies, connecting cities and rural communities, and providing a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation that contributes to our energy security. Amtrak continues to invest in the country’s rail infrastructure, upgrading the speed, efficiency, and comfort of rail travel, while serving over 31 million passengers annually and employing more than 20,000 people. Please join me in supporting this legislation, recognizing the history and importance of railroads in this Commonwealth and country. |
Introduced as HR291