President Obama has set a goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015.  This could create upwards of 2 million jobs in manufacturing.  An Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report shows how critical freight rail is to the national economy, especially when it comes to helping solve the unemployment crisis.  According to the report:

"America’s freight rail networks, comprising about 140,000 miles, move more than 2.2 billion tons of freight annually. Among the 50,000-plus miles of primary rail corridors in the U.S., up to 140 trains per day move commodities such as crops, ore, and manufactured goods for processing and distribution."

And with an increase in exports, comes an increase in the need to move products and thus a creation of good, green jobs:

"Freight rail expansion would create thousands of quality green jobs and induce overall employment and economic growth while strengthening many of America’s goods-producing industries. Furthermore, freight rail has already demonstrated its ability to achieve significant efficiencies resulting in lower fuel use and reduced pollution; increased investment would advance this progress, which has doubled the overall industry’s efficiency in a few decades.

"As America moves full speed ahead to a clean energy economy, freight rail’s crucial role in that transition can be expanded through sound policy choices that maximize the public and economic benefits of this industry."

Read the full report here and view AAM's newest video, which highlights the importance of infrastructure investment.