Friends of the Earth Tours US to Support Amtrak
Contact: Colin Peppard, 202-841-4491 (mobile)
Get on Board the Whistle-Stop Blog!
What:
Friends of the Earth, an international environmental and public health organization, set off today on a Whistle-stop tour of the US to support funding and development of Amtrak, America’s national rail system. Transportation Policy Coordinator Colin Peppard will be visiting 10 cities to tour Amtrak facilities and talk with state officials, newspapers, businesses, activists, and most importantly, train riders.
“There are a lot of people across this country that rely on Amtrak. People use the trains for all sorts of things – to get to work, visit relatives, travel for business, return home from college. I want to talk to these folks and hear from them why they are riding trains.”
Where:
Colin will be traveling across the northern US, beginning in WashingtonDC and ending in San Francisco. He will be in the following cities, and will be available to speak with media as his schedule permits.
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- Monday, 9/26 – Cleveland, OH
- Tuesday, 9/27 – Detroit and Lansing, MI
- Wednesday, 9/28 – St. Louis and Kansas City, MO
- Thursday, 9/28 – Seattle and Olympia, WA
- Friday, 9/29 – Sacramento and San Francisco, CA
Why:
Friends of the Earth supports passenger rail and Amtrak because of its great environmental benefits compared to auto and airplane travel. Trains are fuel efficient, emit less global warming pollution, and take cars off the road. In addition, rail development contributes to the economy, national security, and transportation choice.
Features:
Colin will be posting updates and experience from the road on The Whistle Stop, Friends of the Earth’s Amtrak blog. In addition to following his progress, you can also get recent Amtrak news updates, ask questions, and post comments.
· Video of the Trip
Colin will be recording his trip digitally and producing a short video about his experience upon his return.
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Resources:
Amtrak Infrastructure on Brink, DOT Warns – Washington Post, 9/22/2004
Amtrak, Energy, and the Environment – Factsheet
Amtrak Funding – Factsheet
Amtrak’s Funding Dilemma – Q&A