1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to ask for your support in studying an intercity passenger rail corridor connecting Pittsburgh, Erie, and Buffalo, with onward connections to Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Niagara Falls, and Toronto. As a university professor and administrator, I travel frequently among universities, federal agencies, Department of Defense and research facilities, and industry partners throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, and the Northeast. These trips highlight a significant transportation gap: many cities in our region are geographically close but difficult to reach because direct air service does not exist and passenger rail connections are impractical. Pittsburgh's connections with Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse are good examples. Travelers are often left with driving or connecting flights. Passenger rail should complement aviation by targeting precisely these regional markets. A four- or five-hour train can compete with a connecting flight once airport access, security, connections, and ground transportation are considered. Rail is also attractive when its travel time is similar to driving: professionals and students can use those hours productively rather than spending them behind the wheel. Geographically, the logical missing connection is Pittsburgh to Buffalo. Unfortunately, terrain and existing rail alignments make a competitive direct route difficult. A more practical alternative may be existing rail infrastructure north toward Erie, then the existing east-west corridor to Buffalo. This route would also provide substantial Pennsylvania benefits. Erie could become a junction for traffic among Pittsburgh, Upstate New York, and Ontario, supporting economic development and revitalization. Rail can also serve intermediate communities that aviation cannot. Butler, Slippery Rock, and Grove City could benefit, including Slippery Rock University, Grove City College, and the Grove City Premium Outlets. At Buffalo, the corridor would join New York's existing passenger rail network, effectively creating: Pittsburgh – Erie – Buffalo – Rochester – Syracuse – Albany, with access to Niagara Falls and Toronto. I ask you to encourage the Federal Railroad Administration, PennDOT, Amtrak, New York State, and the relevant railroads to undertake a preliminary feasibility study of a Pittsburgh–Erie–Buffalo Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor. The study should examine infrastructure, achievable travel times and frequencies, intermediate stations, access to central Pittsburgh, and integration at Erie and Buffalo. Most importantly, it should determine what investment would make rail competitive with connecting air travel and comparable in time to driving. A relatively short missing connection could link Pittsburgh northward, strengthen Erie, serve smaller Pennsylvania communities, and connect western Pennsylvania with Upstate New York and Toronto. Thank you for your consideration.