Senate Concurrent Resolution 685

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO JOIN AMTRAK IN CELEBRATING NATIONAL TRAIN DAY ON MAY 8, 2010, TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF RAIL TRAVEL IN MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Amtrak will celebrate America's love for rail travel with events across the country at its third annual National Train Day, May 8, 2010. Marking 140 years of connecting travelers from coast to coast, National Train Day commemorates the day the first transcontinental railroad was created and looks toward the future of rail travel with large scale events in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles and many more locally organized events in communities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak was inspired to commemorate the unique connection between two American institutions, blues music and railroads, by sponsoring a three-day train tour from New Orleans to Chicago with stops in McComb, Hazlehurst, Jackson and Greenwood, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the two sons of Muddy Waters, "Big Bill" and "Mud" Morganfield, are participating in the National Train Day events, further linking Mississippi, blues music and the railroads because of the state's ties to Muddy Waters as his home state and the birthplace of blues music, and the role of the railroad in the migration of blues music from the South to the North and Midwest; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi is recognized across the globe as the "Birthplace of America's Music," which includes blues, rock'n roll, country and gospel music, and is proud to recognize the contributions of Muddy Waters to the musical heritage of the state; and

WHEREAS, train travel is deeply rooted in American culture and it shows great promise to become a growing part of our country's transportation future. National Train Day gives the public a glimpse into how the train shaped the country and how it will continue to do so through exhibits showcasing how train travel provides greener travel options with clean technology and greater efficiency through high-speed rail travel; and

WHEREAS, Amtrak has posted seven consecutive years of growth in ridership and revenue, carrying more than 28.7 million passengers in the last fiscal year. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a 21,000-mile route system; and

WHEREAS, Congress and President Bush approved legislation calling for $13.1 Billion in passenger-rail spending in the next five years and Amtrak's Sunset Limited could be on track for full restoration of service in South Mississippi with this new law that gives Amtrak $1 Million to study reinstating the service, which was cancelled after Hurricane Katrina. Daily passenger train service would be the next logical step in the revitalization and reconstruction of the Mississippi Gulf Coast; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the State of Mississippi to extend public awareness to the future of rail travel on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and throughout our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby join Amtrak in celebrating National Train Day on May 8, 2010, to promote public awareness of the past, present and future of rail travel in Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Director of the Mississippi Development Authority and to members of Mississippi's congressional delegation, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.