GBTA Supports Amtrak Reform Bill

Bill Improves the Transportation Network for Business Travelers

lexandria, VA (March 4, 2015) – The House today passed the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act (H.R. 749), which makes overdue reforms for Amtrak, including the critical Northeast Corridor. The statement below can be attributed to Michael W. McCormick, Executive Director and COO of the Global Business Travel Association.

“The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) applauds House passage of Amtrak Reform. Safe, efficient and reliable passenger rail is critical for business travel. The time for reforming and improving our intercity passenger rail system is now. Road warriors know you can’t always get what you want, but the movement of business travelers by rail is too important, so we will take what we need.

While this legislation will not solve all of Amtrak’s challenges, improvements to the Northeast Corridor (NEC) will be a crucial step in reducing traffic congestion that is costly for both our nation’s business travelers and our overall economy. The NEC, which had its highest ridership ever in 2014, is an important mode of transportation for business travelers seeking an alternative to congested highways and airspaces.

GBTA thanks the House for its action and urges the Senate to move forward with legislation approving funding for Amtrak.”

CONTACT:
Colleen Lerro Gallagher, +1 703-236-1133, cgallagher@gbta.org
Gayle Kansagor, +1 202-295-8775, gayle.kansagor@harbourgrp.com

About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 9,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA and the GBTA Foundation deliver world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, gbta.org