America 2050 joined over a dozen national and regional advocacy groups and the FourBillion.com campaign today at Washington's D.C.'s Union Station to call on Congress to raise the high-speed rail appropriation to $4 billion, along with full funding of Amtrak at $2.6 billion.

Download the Press Release.

A coalition of transportation groups have come together to call on Congress to "keep high-speed rail moving" and appropriate $4 billion for high-speed rail and fully fund Amtrak's request of $2.6 billion in the FY 2011 budget.

They will hold a press conference on Tuesday, May 11, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Capitol Club at Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC  20002 The press conference will follow a morning panel discussion at the Capitol Club on forging a national rail plan.

We will be joined by members of Congress and representatives of the sponsoring organizations, including: Fourbillion.com, America 2050, Transportation for America, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, Midwest High-Speed Rail Association, Southeast High Speed Rail Association, Business Alliance for Northeast Mobility, American High Speed Rail Alliance, American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHTO), OneRail Coalition.

The press conference is open to the public and RSVP is not required. 

America 2050 is planning a Community Sourcing Competition to visualize the future of America's communities and transportation systems. A "Slidecast" of our concept is provided below with audio narration. You can also download this proposal (2 Mb) to learn more about the effort.  

America 2050 hailed this week's high-speed rail announcement as the first step toward a sustained federal commitment to build a national high-speed rail network. But the skeptics at Fox Business had another take. Watch the clip.

"Transit is the key to equity..."

Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City examines how Detroit, a symbol of America's diminishing status in the world, may come to represent the future of transportation and progress in America. The film, which features clips developed in partnership with America 2050 debuts nationally on PBS on February 8 at 10 pm (check local listings).

The special includes clips of a Chicago to Detroit high-speed rail journey produced by America 2050 and WNET -- a  prototype of how travel may be experienced in the future with  new transportation, energy and civic infrastructure.

Also featured is a research paper commissioned by America 2050 from Professor Robert Fishman, 1808 - 1908 - 2008: National Planning for America, in which Fishman relates the history of national planning in America.

America 2050 Director Petra Todorovich discusses how the New York region may fare in a jobs bill being considered by President Obama and Congress and the importance of fully funding the New York MTA's five-year capital plan.

America 2050 Director, Petra Todorovich discusses using stimulus dollars for high-speed rail with Stuart Varney on Fox Business News.

Read America 2050's recent report, Where High-Speed Rail Works Best and recent testimony on high-speed rail to the House of Representatives here.

Mayor Pat McCrory of Charlotte, North Carolina provides a compelling description of why megaregions are important.