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Yesterday, OneRail Coalition Executive Director Anne Canby sent letters to President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney asking them to emphasize the importance of transportation and, in particular, rail as part of their economic agenda if elected president on Nov. 6.

"We believe that transportation infrastructure is an essential underpinning of the entire American economy and that high-performing freight and passenger-rail lines are an integral part of our nation's transportation system and critical for the continued growth of our country," Canby stated in the letters to both candidates.

The coalition represents a diverse group of freight- and passenger-rail stakeholders.

In her letter to Obama, Canby acknowledged the president's work during his first term "to support the future of America's rail transportation system, and we are writing to re-emphasize the importance of the intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, rail transit and freight-rail networks."

In her letter to Romney, Canby wrote that OneRail recognizes his campaign's focus on job creation and economic growth, and asked him to emphasize the importance of the nation's transportation system and the future of its intercity-passenger, commuter, transit and freight-rail networks.

"While the nation's privately owned freight railroads are investing billions in their own infrastructure — over $23 billion in maintenance and capital spending in 2012 and more than $500 billion since 1980 — U.S. public investment in passenger-rail infrastructure is lagging behind other nations," stated the letters to both candidates. "Placing greater emphasis on investments in the nation's rail infrastructure and operations will spur economic growth and encourage new business development, while adding new jobs and expanding employment opportunities throughout the nation."