TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Amtrak is looking to add 39 new routes, 160 new cities, and 20 million new passengers over the next 15 years. But now it has a friend in the White House, President Joe Biden, who has ridden Amtrak for most of the past 30 years. As the service expands, one of the new routes will run three times a day between Tucson and Phoenix and another from Tucson to Los Angeles. Amtrak officials held a media roundtable with some of the people whose help is needed if this is to become a reality. “In many ways, this investment makes so much sense,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “This investment represents a common sense investment in our state.” Also on board are Democratic MPs Ruben Gallego and Greg Stanton. “Earlier this month the House of Representatives made a historic investment in Amtrak through our Invest Act, $ 32 billion over five years,” said Stanton. “That’s three times higher than current funding levels.” Upon completion, Amtrak will build a new train station in Marana and Coolidge in the hopes of picking up passengers who would rather take a train than drive future crowded highways. “Phoenix and Tucson are the second and third fastest warming cities in the United States, ”said Romero. “This underscores the need to offer environmentally friendly travel alternatives.” Rail passenger service between Tucson and Phoenix was shut down in 1995 because it was not profitable, but Amtrak believes the Sun Corridor has grown significantly since then and can support the new route tends to agree to the proposed route . Eleven mayors, both Democrats and Republicans, have signed a letter asking Congress to fund the upgrades and new routes. “There was absolute support, no question about it,” said Romero. “The mayors of Oro Valley, South Tucson, Sahuarita and Marana jumped in immediately.” Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.
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