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Three Short Items
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Washington Post today published my letter to the editor. I note the failure of their ‘congested airways’ editorials to mention rail service as one part of the solution, and referenced NARP’s plan to “bring passenger trains to 103 more metropolitan areas and more options to people who already have some train service.” In the hard copy edition, the letter is the most conspicuous on the page as it is the only one set off by a box, and the length of my title and the organization’s name are long enough to provide considerable white space immediately to their left and further draw the eye’s attention to the box.
Getting closer. The Post on September 22 reported that, according to DOE’s Energy Information Administration, the inflation-adjusted high for U.S. oil prices was $92.91 a barrel in January 1981. Also, “the October futures contract on the Nymex reached a record $83.90 on Thursday, its last day of trading.” The current front-month West Texas Intermediate contract, November, closed Friday at 81.62.
And perhaps some good news for the Southwest Chief. Cemex, the “growing global materials company” based in Monterrey, Mexico, on Sept. 18 announced “it intends to begin the permitting process for the construction of a 1.9 million short ton cement manufacturing facility near Seligman, Ariz. CEMEX will invest approximately $400 million over five years in the Seligman Crossing Plant, which is expected to begin operations by 2012.” Cemex says “the historical shortage of building materials in Arizona and the southwestern United States, coupled with demographic trends that show robust population growth throughout the region, reinforces the need for the…plant.” The Arizona Republic reports “the plant would bring 700 construction jobs to the remote part of the state where higher-wage jobs are scarce. Between 110 to 130 people would work at the plant when it opens in 2011.” The paper calls Seligman “an unincorporated community of about 800 people, “ and says the plant would also benefit other area communities including Kingman, Flagstaff and Williams (all Chief stops). The train used to stop in Seligman, which is 85 miles west of Flagstaff, 55 miles west of Amtrak’s relatively new stop at Williams Junction and 88 miles east of Kingman.
—Ross B. Capon, NARP Executive Director
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More Passenger Rail Could Help
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
While Wall Street partied yesterday, West Texas Intermediate crude oil hit its fifth consecutive new record high ($82.20) and closed at $81.51, up 94 cents on the day. (Brent crude rose 61 cents to $77.59.) Barclays Capital said that “oil demand [outside the US] appears likely to stay very healthy” (from today’s Financial Times). These facts help feed the inflationary pressures that are also a big potential drawback of the Fed’s bigger-than-expected rate cut. And remember the studies by Surface Transportation Policy Project showing that U.S. household transportation costs are lowest in regions with excellent public transportation.
Here are two quick notes—one caution about BWI Rail station and one advocacy tip:
(1) Please check our September 14 Hotline regarding BWI Rail Station elevators being out of service for two months. Many people prefer, and some require, two elevators to reach the southbound platform. Amtrak expects them back November 16. In the mean time, there is Red Cap service (see Hotline for hours) and some shuttles to the airport from Baltimore Penn Station.
(2) Many newspaper web sites invite you to post comments on stories. We encourage you to do this…particularly, for example, when you see a story overlooking rail and implying that the only solution for congestion problems is to build more highways and runways. For example, check out the story from yesterday’s USA Today on the latest Texas Transportation Institute congestion report, and their editorial on aviation. Some newspapers require you to “log in” (it’s free) in order to post comments.
—Ross B. Capon, NARP Executive Director