Hotline #937

Congress continued its work on forming the conference committee for the transportation bill. Staff was in preliminary negotiations on the timeline for conferees, and it’s unclear whether the final bill will be completed before the November 20 extension deadline.

When it comes to the bill’s funding, Rep. Randy Neugebauer’s (R-Texas) amendment to tap a Federal Reserve fund could provide $40 billion in additional general funds for transportation investment. The original bills only provide three years of guaranteed funding. NARP is leading a coalition of passenger advocacy groups to ensure that all general funds include flexibility for states and municipalities to choose how to best invest these resources -- whether that's rails, roads, or transit.

Congressional leadership and staff are meeting in Washington, D.C., next week to reconcile the differences between Senate and House transportation bills. To ensure that this multi-year transportation bill gives states and Amtrak the tools they need to build a 21st Century rail transportation system, a broad coalition of passenger groups have organized a National Day of Action TODAY, Friday, November 13. Passenger groups have rallied around these clear, simple requests further outlined in this blog post.

1. Include passenger rail as part of a comprehensive surface transportation bill.

2. Allow for flexibility in investing the $77 billion in general fund revenue used to fund the surface transportation bill.

3. Include predictable, dedicated funding for passenger rail, and restore funding to FY2010 levels, when Congress invested $4 billion in trains.

Because only a select group of Members of Congress have been selected to be on the committee (full list here), passengers in their states and districts will play an outsized role in deciding the next five to six years of transportation investment. We are urging NARP members to call their officials in support of these key rail provisions to include in the transportation bill.

The announcement of an agreement to create a corporation within the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to oversee long-awaited plans to build a new badly needed rail tunnel under the Hudson River was made this week, reports the New York Times. The new Gateway Development Corporation, with representatives from both states, Amtrak and the U.S. Department of Transportation, will coordinate the project and assemble the billions of dollars needed to pay for it.

Under the envisioned framework, half of the funding for the $20 billion project will come from the federal government and Amtrak, while New Jersey and New York will fund the other half.

Progressive Railroading magazine weighed in on the Hudson River tunnel issue, noting that Amtrak President Joseph Boardman has been sounding the alarm for years on getting the 105-year-old link repaired, warning that its antiquated state risks the reliability of rail systems that use the link to transport passengers from New Jersey to New York City and back every day. And NARP has been advocating for a new tunnel for 20 years, noting that the busiest passenger rail corridor in the U.S. shouldn’t be depending on tunnels built more than 100 years ago. If you don’t invest in infrastructure, it will stop functioning.

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Attention all NARP members in good standing: Now is your opportunity to become involved in the direction and leadership of NARP by running for a State Representative seat on the Council of Representatives (the Association’s volunteer governing body) during the upcoming January 2016 election. Serving on the Council is a wonderful chance to collaborate with others who have a common interest in improving passenger train service across the country.

Any NARP member who has paid dues for at least one year, is at least 18-years of age and is a U.S. resident is eligible to run. Members interested in running must complete and submit for review and qualification a Candidate Information Statement by 11:59 p.m. on December 1, 2015.

Members elected to the Council of Representatives will serve a two-year term starting March 1, 2016. Complete information on the duties and responsibilities of serving on the Council of Representatives, along with detailed specifications on the election procedures can be found on the NARP website under ‘Join the Council’.

NARP is only as strong as the leaders who step up and share their time and talents in working towards our collective goals. Please consider becoming one of these leaders and help make a difference in the future.

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A draft report released this week by the Federal Railroad Administration analyzed three alternatives for upgrading the Northeast Corridor between now and 2040 ranging from offering streamlined ticketing to building a rail tunnel connecting Long Island and the Connecticut coastline, reports ABC News. The study compared the alternatives to no action, that would maintain existing service and infrastructure as ridership grows at a cost of roughly $20 billion over the next 25 years. The most ambitious alternative would cost about $290 billion.

The Colorado Rail Passenger Association worked with the Denver Post on two major stories about the Southwest Chief and rail service in the region. In the first story, a reporter took a ride on the Chief, writing about how a coalition of small towns in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico on the line worked together to raise $50 million -- and win a $15 million TIGER grant -- for track repairs on Burlington Northern Santa Fe's line. It also discussed the economic impact of the train and interviewed those who depend on the Southwest Chief.

The second story was about how civic and social leaders in Pueblo, Colorado, can attract a stop from the Chief. "If Colorado is going to help save this line, we need to have a stop in Pueblo," said Sal Pace, a Pueblo County commissioner who leads the state's legislative effort to protect and expand the Chief. The hope is that Pueblo’s efforts can bring a renaissance to its southern rail hub similar to the rejuvenation at Denver's Union Station. The plan is to eventually have an expansive Front Range rail system.

ColoRail President James Souby praised both stories, but noted that the cost estimate in the Pueblo story was too low, noting that a double/triple track line from Fort Collins to Pueblo would be in the $4.2-5 billion range. The association says that Colorado needs to supplement its road network with passenger railroad trains running between Ft. Collins, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. A Front Range passenger rail system, with connecting transit services, would provide much needed capacity growth, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the mobility of Coloradoans, and providing major economic stimulus to the cities and communities served. It could relieve congestion on highways, making them work better for automobile and bus drivers and future smart vehicles.

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NARP is asking members to continue to support its “This is Not a Dining Car - Cooler Bag Campaign." The effort helps us send a message to Congress: America’s passengers deserve better! By purchasing an insulated “Dining Car” bag for $50, you not only support NARP’s work to build a passenger-focused rail network, but you also tell Congress that micromanaging the nation’s passenger railway, through things like eliminating Dining Cars on long-haul rail service, is not the way to go. For another $25, you can send a second bag to a member of Congress of your choice, which includes an introductory letter, as well as a copy of our published white paper on the subject. We appreciate your continued support of this effort!

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Image courtesy of All Aboard Florida

Privately owned All Aboard Florida unveiled the new name of its intra-state rail service -- the Brightline, reports USA Today. The $3 billion rail system, which will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando along a 235-mile route -- is slated to begin operating by mid-2017. Brightline's express service will reach top speeds of 125 mph. ADD PHOTO

A commentary by a CNBC producer discusses how privately funded transit projects like All Aboard Florida are vital, not only for the future of the nation's infrastructure and transportation, but to the debate over the entire economy as well. The project can serve as an example of a privately funded American mass transit system that works.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's administration was given $28 million in planning funds from the Federal Railroad Administration to study a high-speed maglev rail corridor between Baltimore and Washington, reports the Baltimore Sun. Hogan became enamored with the technology after riding a maglev train during a trip to Japan in June. A proposed train between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., which is estimated to cost between $10 billion and $12 billion, could make the trip in only 15 minutes.

But a letter to the Baltimore Sun editor called “maglev is a waste of funds,” instead saying the FRA funds could be put to better use by improving tracks and track beds allowing conventional diesel locomotives to run at their high speed between Baltimore and Washington. “Maglev may be a more exciting and sexy venture, but just look at high speed trains (not maglev) that operate in other countries and how they have dramatically improved travel time.”

Amtrak has now extended its suspension of through coach and sleeping car service to and from Boston on the Lake Shore Limited until February 1, 2016. The suspension of direct service started earlier in 2015, in order to accommodate track reconfiguration and new platform construction at the busy Albany-Rensselaer station, and was originally scheduled to end this fall. Since the suspension started, passengers have been forced to transfer between trains 48/49 and trains 448/449 at Albany-Rensselaer.

The formerly through Boston sleeper has been consistently operating on the New York section of the Lake Shore, so sleeper capacity has remained unchanged west of Albany. The stub Boston to Albany train currently offers coach seating and a cafe car. Last winter Amtrak cancelled food service on this segment; there is no information yet if this cancellation will occur again this winter.

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Now that Neon, NARP’s new membership management system is up and running, we encourage members to take control of their profiles. After logging in here, members can manage all their details, including updating a profile, make address changes, make and check on donations and changing passwords. It’s a win-win for everyone: members can make their own changes to ensure accuracy, while NARP staff can focus on ongoing advocacy efforts.

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More than 150 rail advocates, business leaders government officials and elected representatives gathered in Burlington, Vermont, on November 5 for the Vermont Rail Action Network's (VRAN) Annual Meeting and Dinner. The attendees celebrated Vermont's recently awarded $10 million 2015 TIGER grant, which will allow for the extension of Amtrak's Ethan Allen Express north from Rutland to Burlington in approximately three years. In addition, VRAN recognized and applauded the courageous efforts of the Amtrak crew members involved in October's rock slide caused derailment of the Vermonter.

NARP's Director of Special Projects, Bruce Becker, attended the event representing NARP and he was recognized by VRAN's Executive Director Christopher Parker for his support and guidance when VRAN was initially formed. Attendees left the evening looking forward to the 2016 festivities which will be held in Rutland.

NARP member Thomas A. Kenefick III made the case for expanding Amtrak east/west rail service in Massachusetts in a letter to the editor of MassLive.com. “I have long advocated expanding similar rail service to Springfield – either by way of Amtrak's inland route or extending the "T" to Springfield. Why there has not been an overwhelmingly strong legislative demand for this expansion of service is incomprehensible in light of the fact that similar needs would be served as those met by the Worcester expansion,” he wrote.

More than 1,000 people attended Virginia’s annual Ashland Train Day, braving the rain, reports the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The event featured everything related to Ashland’s railroad traditions, from model trains in five locations spread along Railroad Avenue, to music, theater and other forms of entertainment.

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NARP thanks those members who have sent in industry-related news stories, op-eds, editorials or letters to the editor from your communities. We include them in our social media efforts, along with the weekly Hotline. Please continue to send your news to NARP’s communications director ([email protected]) and we will continue share it with the membership. Finally, please follow NARP on Facebook and Twitter.

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