Valerie Foushee: “I look forward to learning more about commuter rail services around the country from our witnesses.”

2023 was a remarkable year for North Carolina passenger rail.

I am hopeful that commuter rail can be part of that solution.

I am hopeful that this committee will focus on this important matter because we have not yet held a hearing on the Norfolk Southern derailment.

The reality is that ridership estimates for this new system are very low compared to highway or air traffic numbers for one clear reason: they are too slow.