He was in Keokuk, Iowa talking to a partisan crowd about Iraq and the economy when Senator Biden got a question about transportation spending. The Gate City carries a lengthy report.
You are looking at Mr. Transportation,” he said in response to a question about using an electrified rail system like Europe’s. “I am the reason Amtrak keeps moving.”
It costs considerably more money to build one lane of highway than to lay one mile of track, he added.
“We are doing the exact opposite of what we should be doing,” he said.
The cost of updating the country’s infrastructure has been estimated at $1.7 trillion, much more than the cost of updating China’s, according to Biden.
“Why do you think businesses are leaving (the U.S.)?” he said. “We need a good infrastructure, which would benefit economic development.”
Filed under: Amtrak, Passenger Rail Politics
Trains For America 
oh god yes oh god yes oh oh oh oh ooooooooooh *exhales* joe, you’re fantastic…
I worked for 15 years and had people help from all across the state concerning getting rail service from St. Louis to Springfield and Branson and on the Tulsa. Last year in Missouri the highway department tried to convince the State Legislature to help get funding for Amtrak from Stylus to Branson and on. They say it will help relieve traffic on interstate 44 and help drivers have other options. Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, Branson and many other cities could benefit from the economic development it could bring
Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden has spent many years promoting the idea that additional routes will increase traffic in general on Amtrak. . What about those gas prices? If Biden becomes vice president he will bring more Rail Passenger Service to Missouri and the United States.
Sincerely,
Steven L. Reed
1441 South Estate Ave.
Springfield, MO 65804
stevenlloydreed@hotmail.com
417-425-4182