Strategic Plan

The Rail Passengers Association (RPA), also known as the National Association of Rail Passengers, is the nation’s largest advocacy organization for passenger rail. RPA serves as a voice for train passengers to policy makers, working for more and better passenger rail everywhere and for everyone.

Building on the historic opportunity for passenger rail through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, RPA embarked on a strategic planning process to continue its policy successes while building a strong foundation for future sustainability. Through this process, RPA has defined five priorities for 2023–2025:

● Expand and improve passenger rail service to more places for more people: RPA has an opportunity to build on its policy achievements, starting with the use of IIJA funds, to expand and improve passenger rail and meet the needs of all of its constituents. These mission-focused goals are the center of the plan, and all other goals are built to support these priorities.

● Grow the coalition: A broad and diverse coalition of support is needed for both effective advocacy and financial sustainability, and RPA has faced a gradual decline in membership in recent years. To deliver on its policy agenda, RPA has built a set of strategies and tactics to reverse this trajectory, grow the coalition and enable future success.

● Diversify revenue to strengthen the financial position: After several challenging financial years, RPA has been able to approach break even through effective fundraising and operational efficiencies. A focus on diversification to foundation and industry sources while building on existing individual support and earned revenue will give RPA the resources to expand the coalition – and fight for a better rail network – while ensuring it is sustainable for the long-term.

● Invest in staff success: RPA’s team is very lean, and the current operational infrastructure is not prepared to support growth and expanded fundraising. Targeted investments in the people and the systems they use are necessary to achieve the above priorities.

● Strengthen the governance structure: RPA's unconventional structure presents barriers to success on the above strategies. Aligning the organization with industry standards for governance will enable the Board of Directors to provide more effective oversight and strategic guidance and the Council of Representatives to better deliver on its intended purpose of bringing together local, regional and national advocacy efforts.

This plan was created by the association’s Committee on the Future, with the assistance of Hoffmann Consulting as an outside facilitator, and was approved by the association’s Board of Directors on December 8, 2022. This plan is ambitious, but with the help of everyone who is a part of the Rail Passengers Association, it is achievable: together, we can expand and improve passenger rail service to more places for more people

Click here to read the full plan