We, the undersigned declare our support for the development of a dedicated, high speed passenger train network capable of supporting speeds of at least 220mph in North Carolina and South Carolina. 1. Running passenger trains on dedicated lines separate from freight rail lines will dramatically improve the speed and efficiency of both passenger and freight transport. 2. Planning high speed rail lines will reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign oil resulting in a more economically stable and secure transportation network. 3. Faster trains will encourage increased ridership and decrease the number of vehicles on the road resulting in reduced highway congestion and improved traffic flow, fewer automobile accidents, decreased strain on highway infrastructure, improved air quality, and reduced carbon emissions. 4. Faster trains will encourage increased ridership and decrease the number of airplane passengers resulting in reduced airport congestion and improved airline efficiency, which will save fuel, improve air quality, and reduce carbon emissions. 5. High speed rail is already a reality in many of the nations we are competing with in the global economy including China, France, Germany, and Japan. 6. Numerous states across the country are beginning to plan and design high speed rail infrastructure. 7. The administration of President Barack Obama has expressed its strong support for states to take the initiative to begin planning their own high speed rail infrastructure. 8. There is widespread support for high speed rail among business leaders and sustainability advocates. 9. In response to the crisis of global climate change, the development of a fast, efficient, and widely used statewide high speed rail system is the only environmentally responsible course of action. 10. The creation of an efficient and widely used rail network is vital to maintaining the strength of our region, state, and local communities in an increasingly competitive global economy. We reaffirm our declared support for the development of a dedicated, high speed passenger train network capable of supporting speeds of at least 220mph in North Carolina and South Carolina.

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