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Jan 15, 2008: NARP Applauds National Surface Transportation Commission ReportReport echoes NARP’s proposal to strengthen and expand America’ passenger train network Release #08-01—January 15, 2008 (Note: links to the report are available at the bottom of this release) Washington, DC, January 15, 2008 — The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) lent its support to the recommendations for passenger rail outlined in Transportation for Tomorrow, the plan issued today by the bipartisan National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission. “This long-awaited report takes a hard look at the quality-of-life, economic, environmental, and energy consequences of our current transportation policy and maps out a realistic strategy to address current and upcoming needs,” said Ross Capon, executive director of NARP and a member of the Passenger Rail Working Group. Capon noted that the passenger rail portion of Transportation for Tomorrow builds on a proposal introduced in June of 2007 by NARP, the largest citizen-based organization advocating for rail passengers. NARP called on America’s elected officials and policymakers to support a nationwide “Grid and Gateway” train network. NARP’s vision also includes improved linkages between airports and intercity rail, a concept where the U.S. lags as far behind Europe as in passenger rail development generally. A map of the proposed “Grid and Gateway” network and information on its benefits are available here on our website. Transportation for Tomorrow incorporates many of the ideas and routes presented in NARP’s “Grid and Gateway” proposal. Transportation for Tomorrow also recommends upgrades in frequencies and speeds on specific corridors, phases in proposed rail expansions over several years, and proposes funding mechanisms to implement this vision. NARP singled out specific elements of Transportation for Tomorrow for support, including:
“We particularly appreciate the report’s recognition of the importance of serving both urban cores and rural communities,” said Capon. “Polls and studies repeatedly demonstrate that Americans want more passenger trains.”
NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 23,000 individual members. Links to the report Passenger Rail Findings (p.p. 19-24, including national rail passenger maps for 2015 (page 22), 2030 (page 23) and 2050 (page 24)). State of current system (p.p. 6-7, including current national rail passenger map (page 7)) Current and potential funding sources (p.p. 10-11, 19, 23-24)
Jan 19, 2008: SMART Launches in New OrleansCitizens, business and political leaders kick off group urging restoration and improvement of Gulf Coast train service Release #08-02—January 19, 2008 New Orleans, LA—The Sunset Marketing and Revitalization Team (SMART), a grassroots, passenger rail advocacy group, hosted its first formal meeting at the Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans. “SMART came together because people across the southern tier of the United States are puzzled and dismayed that Amtrak keeps postponing decisions on the future of the Sunset Limited,” said Matthew Melzer, Communications Associate for the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), one of the founding members of SMART. The Sunset Limited, which normally runs between Los Angeles and Orlando, was truncated at New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and its eastern segment never reinstated despite restoration of rail lines by CSX Transportation. “Today’s trackage is superior to what existed pre-Katrina, citizen demand continues high, and yet Amtrak has not restored the service, leaving entire communities stranded with no easy access to alternatives and at the mercy of $3 per gallon gas prices,” said Melzer, who noted that communities between New Orleans and Orlando would benefit from the nationwide access afforded by reliable, efficient passenger rail service. Annual ridership on the Sunset Limited grew 22.1% for the 2007 fiscal year. Restoring service to its pre-Katrina level would let tens of thousands more Americans take part in this renaissance. Before Katrina, the New Orleans-Orlando segment accounted for 28% of route miles, but 39% of ridership and 41% of revenue. SMART welcomed at the meeting representatives from Amtrak, hoping to build a constructive relationship with all Sunset Limited stakeholders. SMART was also honored to welcome John Robert Smith, Mayor of Meridian, MS and former Amtrak board chairman, as well as Karen Parsons, Executive Director of the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission and Gwenn Voigts, President of the Pass Christian, MS Chamber of Commerce. Several representatives from TEMPO were also at the meeting. TEMPO celebrated its tenth anniversary last year after a decade of leveraging a broad coalition between passenger rail, civic, and business interests to not only save Amtrak’s Texas Eagle, but improve onboard amenities, upgrade stations, and improve both schedule and performance of the service that connects Chicago, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. TEMPO’s work has also led to restoration of train stations along the Texas Eagle route, helping towns to leverage their stations as points of civic pride and historical importance, while boosting the appeal for potential tourists and making the train travel option more inviting and hospitable for local residents. “It will take a concerted effort by all communities and leaders along the route in order to bring about a resumption and improvement of Sunset service,” said Richard L. Wright, member of SMART. Melzer praised the efforts of groups such as SMART and TEMPO. “Americans in cities large and small overwhelmingly favor having the passenger train option in their communities, and these grassroots citizen teams are effective in highlighting the benefits,” noted Melzer. “Politicians have realized that passenger trains provide a bi-partisan solution for our nation’s crises in energy and mobility, and citizens of the Sunset Limited route stand to enjoy improved mobility and an enhanced quality of life when Amtrak service improves to pre-Katrina levels and beyond.” Feb 04, 2008: Statement on Bush Fiscal 2009 Budget RequestStatement of Ross B. Capon On President Bush’s Fiscal 2009 Budget Request February 4, 2008 “While the Administration’s funding recommendations released today for Amtrak are disappointing, they are not surprising, given this Administration’s eight-year lack of vision for a balanced transportation network and most recent hostility to the recommendations of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC), a federal blue ribbon panel. “Ignoring the recommendations of the NSTPRSC, polls and referenda around the country showing that Americans want passenger trains as a travel choice, and support from Congress, President Bush again has proposed to dismantle the national train system with a shutdown budget of $800 million, a figure $525 million below this year’s budget of $1.325 billion. “By proposing a 40% cut in Amtrak funds, the Administration would reduce the American people’s travel choices in an era of rising gas prices, concerns about the environment, and hours of lost productivity due to highway and aviation congestion. “The President’s recommendations mean that, once again, Congress will be called on to provide adequate funds for intercity passenger trains. In recent years, strong bipartisan majorities have rejected proposed Amtrak funding cuts; the Senate passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act on a 70-22 vote in October. “With proper leadership from the Administration, we could develop a train system Americans would be proud of. Last June, NARP introduced a vision for a grid-and-gateway network of interconnected transportation options. This vision was broadly endorsed by the NSTPRSC, which recommended replacing the current annual appropriations charade with a stable, integrated fund that would enable rational planning. The expanded passenger train network that Americans need is eminently reachable in the next few decades if we begin to put the pieces into place now. “Let’s hope the next president recognizes that integration of passenger trains into a comprehensive national transportation policy will be crucial to preserving and expanding transportation choices for our citizens now and for years to come.” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 23,000 individual members. Feb 13, 2008: NARP Praises Partial Restoration of Amtrak’s Coast Starlight; Presses full restoration in MarchRelease #08-04—February 13, 2008 Washington, D.C., February 13, 2008—In an open letter to Amtrak released today, the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) praised Amtrak’s decision to reinstate its “Coast Starlight” train between Los Angeles and Sacramento. The Association also urged the railroad to restore the entire run to Seattle by March 4, using buses for the Klamath Falls-Eugene segment if tracks closed by a January mud slide remain impassable. NARP’s letter expressed concern “about the impact of no service for an indefinite period north of Sacramento. A prolonged Starlight service outage
For a few days after the mud slide closed Union Pacific’s main line near Frazier, Oregon, Amtrak maintained service by running Los Angeles-Klamath Falls and Portland-Seattle trains and Klamath Falls-Portland buses. After that, Amtrak suspended the entire “Coast Starlight” service. In its letter, NARP urged Amtrak to immediately resume selling Starlight travel for March 4 and later dates. The letter said, “With the limited service that Amtrak is currently providing, the only route between the Pacific Northwest and California is via Chicago, which is unacceptable. Amtrak, as the nation’s only interstate passenger rail operator, has a responsibility to serve as much of this important rail route as possible.” NARP’s letter further noted that the “Starlight” serves a large number of universities and colleges, and spring break is fast approaching. An announcement about restored service and resumed ticket sales will be important to those looking to make travel plans soon. On its fortieth anniversary last year, NARP proposed a grid-and-gateway networked train system that would connect cities and communities across America and would provide for alternative service when emergencies such as this arise. That vision for America, and a map illustrating possible routes, are at www.narprail.org/vision. NARP’s proposal influenced the recommendations of a blue-ribbon federal commission in January, which fleshed out this vision with financing and legislative proposals, and called for more comprehensive and rational transportation investment decisions. “The Coast Starlight situation reiterates the importance of a comprehensive national train network,” said Capon. “Amtrak needs to recognize the huge damage of lost revenues, plan carefully, resume serving customers and earning that revenue, and stop being paralyzed by the fear that something might go wrong.” The Coast Starlight is widely acknowledged as one of Amtrak’s most important overnight routes. It is the only north-south route west of the Mississippi River and it is used by passengers connecting with other Amtrak routes. The routes which directly connect with the Starlight are the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and California’s San Joaquins and Pacific Surfliners. About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 23,000 individual members. Mar 13, 2008: NARP Celebrates Railroad Day by Calling on Congress to Invest in a Balanced Transportation SystemRelease #08-05—March 13, 2008 Contact NARP “Railroad Day provides an opportunity to emphasize that a variety of sectors rely on a strong and vital rail system, as well as to reiterate the interconnectivity between strong freight and passenger rail systems,” said Ross Capon, executive director of NARP. NARP will be visiting Members of Congress as part of Railroad Day delegations to urge Congress to:
On its 40th anniversary last year, NARP proposed a grid-and-gateway networked train system that would connect cities and communities across America on rail lines already in existence or already planned, and would provide for alternative service when emergencies such as this arise. That vision for America, and a map illustrating possible routes, can be found at www.narprail.org/vision. NARP’s proposal also influenced the report released in January by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC). That report, “Transportation for Tomorrow,” detailed legislative and financing recommendations to ensure sustained and balanced investment in various critical modes of transportation, including rail. Apr 01, 2008: NARP Urges NJ TRANSIT to Restore Hudson River Rail Tunnel PlansRelease #08-06—April 1, 2008 Contact NARP In testimony delivered to a federally-required NJT hearing on a Supplementary Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the “Trans-Hudson Express Tunnel,” NARP executive director Ross Capon joined other citizen advocates by arguing that “it is essential that New York City’s existing Pennsylvania Station be accessible from the new tunnels. NJT abandoned this accessibility in a June 2007 project redesign, the rationale for which has been kept secret.” Capon said, “Today’s security-conscious world cries out for the redundancy that NJT’s earlier design offered.” Capon urged officials to consider the implications of temporary or extended closure of the existing Amtrak-owned tunnels used by both Amtrak and NJT trains. If the present plan is adopted, existing intercity trains could not operate nor could prospective inter-regional services like Trenton-Stamford. Capon noted that not only would the project provide no additional intercity slots at Penn Station, it also precludes future investments aimed at providing such slots even though New York City is widely recognized as the nation’s “number one market where expanded intercity train service would help address demands for air service that are bumping up against airport and airspace capacity limits.” In a separate statement, Albert L. Papp Jr., director and recording secretary of the New Jersey Association of Railroad Passengers said, “Simply put, this once outstanding regionally comprehensive plan has devolved into nothing more than a six track ‘deep cavern’ annex to New York Penn Station beneath 34th Street for use ONLY by NJT trains.” Similarly, Bruce B. Becker, president of the Empire State Passengers Association (ESPA) opposed the plan and urged NJT and Federal Transit Administration to advance the direct connection between the new Hudson River tunnels and Penn Station tracks and platforms described in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued in February 2007. ESPA also called for restarting the planning and environmental studies for a direct track connection between Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, described as “Alternative G” in the Major Investment Study (MIS) phase of the planning process.” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger rail in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by 24,000 individual members. Apr 10, 2008: NARP Urges NJ and NY Govs. to Restore Proposal for Critical Hudson River Rail Tunnel LinkRelease #08-07—April 10, 2008 Contact NARP In its $7.6 billion Access to the Region’s Core plan for the Trans-Hudson Express tunnel, NJ TRANSIT is proposing reconfiguration of tracks that will limit operational flexibility, especially in the event of an emergency. The new plans call for dead-end trackage deep underground, separate from existing New York Pennsylvania Station (NYP) tracks, eliminating a rail link that had been incorporated in earlier plans. This precludes use of the new tunnels for cross-New York City services, leaving Amtrak and future commuter rail services dependent on the existing pair of century-old tunnels. The letter, signed by Ross Capon, the Association’s Executive Director, noted that New York City’s own police chief just this week spotlighted NYP as a critical but vulnerable transit hub. NARP’s letter stated, “a key security priority for NYP should be to eliminate the vulnerability associated with its dependence on two 100-year-old tunnels.” “We appreciate the difficulties inherent in any major construction project in Manhattan. We understand that what we suggest might take longer to get done, and may cost more to build. But the costs of not linking the new tunnels with existing NYP far outweigh the technical difficulties and costs of creating the link, which we believe have been overstated,” NARP wrote in its letter. In testimony delivered to an NJ TRANSIT hearing on April 1, Capon joined other citizen advocates by arguing that it is essential that New York City’s existing Penn Station be accessible from the new tunnels. Capon noted that NJ TRANSIT abandoned this accessibility in a June 2007 project redesign. NARP’s letter to the Governors can be seen here. Apr 16, 2008: Railroad Passengers Call on Congress and President Bush to Enact Real Climate Change SolutionsRelease #08-08—April 16, 2008 Contact NARP “The President has a goal of halting the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by 2025. His goal is inadequate and his methods for reaching it ring hollow,” said NARP Executive Director Ross Capon. “The framework he proposed today ignores a key problem: The United States, with just 4.5% of the world’s population, uses 25% of the world’s oil; the U.S. imports about 60% of its oil, according to the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.” The U.S. transportation sector alone emits more CO2 than the entire economy of any other country in the world except China (US Public Interest Research Group). Environmental Protection Agency data show that over 60% of CO2 emissions from U.S. transportation in 2005 came from personal automobiles. Automobiles account for 40% of U.S. oil consumption, so U.S. automobiles cause about 10% of worldwide oil consumption. Capon noted, “With an expanded national passenger train network, Americans could shift to—-or expand use of—-an attractive, energy-efficient travel choice that is environmentally sound, reducing both their carbon output and U.S. dependence on foreign oil. “The President’s desire to reduce carbon output in the energy sector is laudable, but his focus too narrow. NARP urges President Bush and Congress to include, as part of any meaningful climate change policy, an emphasis in transportation investment on the most energy-efficient and environmentally sound forms of transportation, including passenger trains and mass transit. Such an emphasis would be consistent with the President’s stated interest in green technology. “Fuel efficiency offers the most immediate and biggest potential for reducing CO2 emissions from transportation over the next three decades, partly because we are so far from developing advanced, low-carbon technologies to replace oil-based transportation energy. The emissions reduction policy measure that will have the most immediate impact is the one that will make greater use of the most fuel/carbon efficient transportation.” Apr 30, 2008: Congressman John Olver Wins National Railroad AwardRelease #08-09—April 30, 2008 Washington D.C., April 30, 2008—The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that U.S. Representative John Olver (D-MA) is a recipient of the 2008 George Falcon Golden Spike Award. The award honors individuals for their contributions to the advancement of passenger rail. Olver is chairman of, and former ranking member on, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. “He has consistently been an articulate voice in favor of a balanced transportation system in which passenger trains play a growing role,” said NARP Executive Director Ross Capon. Chairman Olver said, “I am honored to receive this award. First as the Ranking Member of the transportation appropriations subcommittee, and now as the Chairman, I have looked for ways to ensure that intercity passenger rail plays an integral part of our nation’s transportation policy. Our population has reached record levels, and the challenges created by this growth – congested highways and airspace, increased travel delays, and environmental degradation – are clear. It should also be clear that we cannot build our way out of these mobility problems with new roads and airports alone. Intercity passenger rail must be part of the solution.” Chairman Olver’s work has been particularly appreciated by NARP, which last June introduced a vision for a grid-and-gateway network of interconnected transportation options that would encourage and link state corridor projects such as those championed by Congressman Olver. This vision was broadly endorsed by a federal blue-ribbon commission, which additionally recommended funding and legislative options that would help implement this network. “The expanded passenger train network that Americans need is eminently reachable in the next few decades if we begin to put the pieces into place now – and Congressman Olver is helping put those pieces into place,” said Capon. The Association presents George Falcon Golden Spike Awards to honor individuals, usually public officials, for their support for a fully developed train network and leadership in promoting rail development. A complete list of past winners is available here. The award is named for George Falcon, a Los Angeles area publisher and early member of NARP, who created the award. Apr 30, 2008: Amtrak Detective Mumford Wins National Safety HonorRelease #08-10—April 30, 2008 Washington D.C., April 30, 2008—The family of Dr. Gary Burch and the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that Detective John “Jake” Mumford, a resident of California’s Bay Area, has won the 2008 Dr. Gary Burch Memorial Safety Award. The award, which honors individuals who have significantly enhanced rail passenger safety, is sponsored by the family of Dr. Burch, who died in a 1991 passenger train derailment in South Carolina. “Because security and safety go hand-in-hand, it is a particular honor for us to be able to spotlight the efforts of Detective Mumford this year,” said Bette Burch. An employee of Amtrak detailed to provide security services for California’s Capitol Corridor, Mumford was selected for his outstanding commitment to policing one of the heaviest-traveled passenger corridors in the country. The Capitol Corridor connects San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and the Sacramento area. “Detective Mumford carries out his duties with a smile, with authority and with a helping hand,” said Eugene Skoropowski, managing director of the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority, which operates the Capitol Corridors. Mumford has been praised in passenger surveys for his customer-friendly outreach. He has also received accolades from police departments for his ability to foster cooperation and coordination among various public safety departments, including local law enforcement agencies, Union Pacific Railroad Police, Amtrak Police, and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police. Skoropowski singled out Mumford’s recent work assisting in the investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of local gang members who had terrorized communities along the track and attacked a Capitol Corridor train crew last year. The Burch family established the $1,000 award in 1994 and has sponsored it ever since. This year, the family noted other noteworthy nominees in addition to that for Detective Mumford:
More information on the award, and past winners, can be found here. Apr 30, 2008: Senator Gordon Smith Wins National Railroad AwardRelease #08-11—April 30, 2008 Washington D.C., April 30, 2008—The National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) announced today that U.S. Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) is a recipient of the 2008 George Falcon Golden Spike Award. The award honors individuals for their contributions to the advancement of passenger rail. Senator Smith has been a strong supporter of passenger train development, both intercity and commuter. He played a key role in advancing the Westside Express Service Commuter Rail Project-—diesel powered trains that will connect with and extend the reach of the Portland MAX light rail system in Washington County. Oregon. The senator also has worked to bring parties together in an effort to save freight train service on Oregon’s threatened Coos Bay line. Last June, NARP introduced a vision for a grid-and-gateway network of interconnected transportation options that would encourage and link state corridor projects such as those that have blossomed in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. NARP’s vision was broadly endorsed by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, which additionally recommended funding and legislative options that would help implement this network. Restoration of service between Portland, Eastern Oregon points, and Boise/Salt Lake City/the East is in both the NARP vision and the Commission’s “2030 intercity passenger rail network” (page 4-23 of the Commission’s December, 2007, report, Transportation for Tomorrow, [click on Chapter 4 here]). The George Falcon Golden Spike Award honors public officials for their support for a fully developed rail network and leadership in promoting rail development. The award is named for George Falcon, a Los Angeles area publisher and early member of NARP, who created the award. Prior winners include U.S. Senators, Members of Congress, the people of Los Angeles and Baltimore, and individuals who have shown a dedication to and commitment to passenger rail in a way that has advanced a stronger rail network. A complete list of past winners is available here. May 07, 2008: NARP to Celebrate National Train Day; Calls on policymakers to support Grow Trains CampaignRelease #08-12—May 7, 2008 Washington D.C., May 7, 2008—With National Train Day celebrations planned across the U.S. Saturday, the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) renewed its call to Congress, federal policymakers, and state and local governments to support its Grow Trains Campaign, and to fund repair of Amtrak’s idle cars immediately. Durham NH event is Friday. NARP unveiled the Grow Trains Campaign last year to build support for its grid and gateway vision to achieve a truly intercity national passenger train network. NARP’s vision would vastly expand train routes by connecting major terminals (“gateways”) to long-distance, commuter, and high-speed train services, making up a networked “grid” connecting all major metropolitan areas, providing direct train-airport connections, and expanding track capacity for passenger and freight trains. NARP and state partners are sponsoring events at train stations nationwide to continue building support for the Grow Trains Campaign and to highlight the role of passenger trains in the economies of local communities and in connecting people and businesses across America. NARP-sponsored event on Friday, May 9:
NARP-sponsored events on Saturday, May 10:
NARP will be present in nearly 20 other cities, including Amtrak’s flagship celebrations at stations in New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Los Angeles. Communities around the country also are hosting events. “This year’s festivities come as gasoline price sticker shock is leading more and more people to take the train, but while efforts to expand passenger train capacity are still negligible,” said Ross Capon, executive director of NARP. Capon added, “Amtrak is heading towards its sixth straight year of ridership growth. Many routes have growth in double digits. With credible projections that the price of oil in two years may rise to $200 a barrel from about $120 today and $60 a year ago, Americans are going to get more and more frustrated if policymakers continue to be slow to address the public’s hunger for more travel choices in general and more trains in particular.” National Train Day commemorates the Golden Spike ceremony that celebrated completion of the first transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit, Utah, on May 10, 1869. Information on NARP’s Grow Trains Campaign is at http://www.narprail.org/vision. Jun 03, 2008: Oil Prices Underline Need for More Passenger TrainsRelease #08-13—June 3, 2008 Statement of Ross B. Capon Washington D.C., June 3, 2008— Transit ridership is at its highest level in 50 years, as reported last night on NBC Nightly News. There have been many other news reports about growing Amtrak and transit ridership. Most stories also have highlighted the historical underinvestment that prevents Amtrak and transit authorities from dealing with much more growth in the near term, and the budgetary problems that are forcing transit service reductions even as more people want to climb on board. Today’s GM announcement about the closure of four more plants should send a clear message to Washington: we need a rapid and long-overdue ramping up of investment in Amtrak and transit to give people jobs when other parts of the transportation industry are retrenching and to let Americans leave their cars at home when they want to-—which they increasingly do. The time to invest in trains is now. Nationwide, Amtrak ridership is up 11% for October-April, the first seven months of FY 2008, compared with the same period a year earlier. American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reports that transit trips rose 3.3% in the January-March quarter, compared with a year earlier, with light rail up 10.3% and commuter railroad trips up 5.7%. Preliminary data indicate an even bigger increase in April. Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says March vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the nation’s highways fell 4.3% from a year earlier, “the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history…The estimated data show that VMT on all U.S. public roads have dropped since 2006.” In addition, some small airlines have shut down, many small cities are losing air service, and major airlines plan big service reductions. Last year, NARP released its Grow Trains Campaign to bring intercity passenger rail service to over 300 cities nationwide. In our June 25, 2007 news release, we correctly predicted the current days’ events when we said that “the average price of gas [is] expected to top $4 per gallon in the near future.” The Grow Trains Campaign is needed now more than ever. Congress and the Administration need to make it happen. For more on NARP’s Grow Trains Campaign, go to http://www.narprail.org/vision. The FHWA release, “Americans Driving At Historic Lows”: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0811.htm APTA’s June 2 ridership growth release: http://www.apta.com/media/releases/080602_ridership_report.cfm APTA’s one-page first quarter ridership summary: http://www.apta.com/media/releases/080602_ridership_report.cfm Jun 12, 2008: Rail Passengers Applaud Passenger Rail Bill PassageRelease #08-14—June 11, 2008 Statement of Ross B. Capon Washington D.C., June 11, 2008— The House of Representatives is to be commended for its overwhelming approval today of H.R. 6003, the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. The bill, which passed on a veto-proof margin of 311-104, aims in a number of ways to improve and expand U.S. passenger train service. That is exactly what the public has wanted for years. If properly funded through annual appropriations, tax credit bonds, cap and trade revenues, or some combination of these, this bill will allow for significant investment in rolling stock and tracks, including the addition of needed track capacity at key “chokepoints” where Amtrak and freight trains both suffer delays. With Amtrak and mass transit ridership going off the charts as Americans respond to high prices for gasoline and jet fuel, it is disappointing that over 100 members voted against the bill. It is equally disappointing that the Bush Administration issued a veto threat because, in the Administration’s words, the bill “provides scant opportunity for competition on existing Amtrak routes and does not include provisions that would condition Amtrak’s funding based on progress on reforms.” To put those comments into perspective, one must remember that the Amtrak Board of Directors for a long time has been composed exclusively of Bush appointees, that the Secretary of Transportation is a board member, and that existing law gives plenty of opportunity for the Administration to kill individual routes, which would make even less sense now than a year ago, but which is what some Amtrak critics consider a key “reform.” Also, Amtrak largely operates over tracks of private railroads which have made clear their opposition to other carriers performing the same function. Jun 20, 2008: Rail Passengers Call for Increased Amtrak FundingRelease #08-15—June 20, 2008 Washington D.C., June 20, 2008—This morning, the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development took the first step in the Fiscal 2009 appropriations process to fund intercity passenger train service. The Subcommittee approved $1.439 billion for Amtrak, a slight increase over current funding, but $346 million (19%) below Amtrak’s request of $1.785 billion. The legislation provides $475 million for operational support, and $850 million for capital grants and debt service. It also includes $114 million to meet the back pay recommended by Presidential Emergency Board 242 and required by subsequent labor contract agreements. Also included, separate from Amtrak funding, is $60 million for federal/state matching funds grants—up from $30 million in Fiscal 2008. While NARP is aware of the budgetary constraints that the Subcommittee faced, we urge the full Committee to raise the total appropriation to $1.9 billion. This larger amount would fully fund Amtrak’s requested operations and capital needs, its obligations for back pay, and provide additional money that Amtrak did not request to repair and return to service nearly 80 damaged railcars that are currently sitting idle. Repairing these cars should be a critical priority for Congress and Amtrak. It is the fastest way to provide the capacity needed to handle the large number of passengers that has begun to flood Amtrak’s entire system. Amtrak’s nationwide ridership jumped 11% in the last seven months over the same period last year—clear evidence that Americans are turning to intercity passenger trains due to high gas prices and turmoil in the airline industry. Expanding passenger train capacity quickly will allow more Americans to use trains to cut transportation costs, avoid traffic stress and air travel headaches, and makes our nation less dependent on oil. Broad, bi-partisan support exists for the higher spending needed to expand intercity passenger train service for all Americans. On June 11, the full House approved the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act that authorizes between $1.8 and $2.3 billion a year in funding over the next five years by a stunning three-to-one margin of 311-104. The full committee was scheduled to take up the legislation next Thursday, but that has now slipped until after the July 4 recess (likely the week of July 7). Consideration by the full House, and any Senate action, has not yet been scheduled. About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Aug 14, 2008: Railroad Passengers Criticize GAO ReportRelease #08-16—August 14, 2008 Washington D.C., August 14, 2008—In a letter today to legislators who requested a recent GAO report, the National Association of Railroad Passengers again endorsed a federal commission’s proposal to create a specific, federal program for “intercity passenger rail” even while otherwise moving away from mode-specific programs. The Association’s endorsement of a proposal from the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission came in the wake of a July 29 Government Accountability Office report critical of the Commission’s recommendation. NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon wrote that the Commission “boldly suggested a truly balanced transportation policy and applied more than just ‘cost’ as a measurement…GAO’s response appears to be more in the nature of ‘bean counting’ than transportation policy analysis that considers other policy outcomes. For example, ‘train,’ ‘railroad’ and ‘passenger train’ are words that do not appear on the page discussing ‘linking transportation policy and funding to environment and energy sectors.’… “Even in the face of strong ridership growth at Amtrak pushing up against that railroad’s capacity limits, federal policy has yet to change, and it remains unclear when funds will appear to enable significant expansion of the intercity passenger fleet.” As further evidence that federal funding needs to change to align with market demand, NARP also cited a July 28 U.S. DOT release which reported a decline of 29.8 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. roads in the January-May period, including a record 3.7% drop in May from a year earlier. Yesterday, DOT announced that VMT in June fell 4.7% from June, 2007. NARP concluded, “We generally not been impressed with the GAO’s handling of rail matters,” citing a June 9, 2005, hearing on Amtrak food service where then-subcommittee chairman Steve LaTourette (R-OH) referred to testimony by the GAO’s JayEtta Hecker as an “attention grabber that I don’t think is fair…I’m concerned about the sound bite nature of [accusations that Amtrak paid] $3.83 for a beer.” Amtrak had told GAO the day before the hearing that the number arose from “a single data entry error that was corrected within 40 minutes.” The full letter is posted here. Recent U.S. DOT releases on reduced driving are: July 28 (with May data) Amtrak’s August 14 release (July ridership highlights) About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Aug 15, 2008: Railroad Passengers: Increased Amtrak Energy Efficiency Strengthens Case for More TrainsRelease #08-17—August 15, 2008 Washington D.C., August 15, 2008—The National Association of Railroad Passengers today lauded the latest federal figures on transportation energy consumption which showed a 2.2% increase in Amtrak’s energy efficiency, making Amtrak 17.9% more efficient than airlines. Edition 27 of the annual Transportation Energy Data Book – compiled by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy – says Amtrak consumed 2,650 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per passenger-mile in 2006, versus 2,709 in 2005 – a 2.2% improvement. “Passenger trains have always been a highly energy efficient mode of travel,” said NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon. “These figures and the public’s increased desire to park their cars and ride trains underscore the importance of immediately increasing investments in our national passenger train system as a key component of any rational energy policy. “Analysts consistently identify passenger trains as energy efficient, but federal policy still encourages investing most resources in the least efficient forms of transportation. That is not the road to energy independence.” Certificated air carriers (domestic service) also improved—to 3,228 BTUs per passenger-mile in 2006 from 3,264 in 2005—but the change in ratio was in Amtrak’s favor. Amtrak used 17.9% less energy per passenger-mile than airlines in 2006 vs. 17.0% less in 2005. Conversely, airlines used 21.8% more energy than Amtrak in 2006 vs. 20.5% in 2005. The data are in table 2.14, “Energy Intensities of Nonhighway Passenger Modes, 1970-2006.” Meanwhile, Amtrak last month set an all-time record for monthly ridership, carrying 2,750,278 passengers, up 14% from July 2007. Individual routes reported increases as high as 43%. “The traveling public is voting with their feet and with their dollars,” noted Capon. “Unfortunately, a big part of the driving reduction means travel foregone rather than transferred to rail. With Amtrak in its sixth straight year of ridership growth, and nearing capacity of its existing fleet, it is long past time for Washington to balance public investments in transportation with our current and future energy needs – and obvious market demands.” Americans drove 4.7% fewer miles in June than a year earlier (U.S. DOT’s August 13 release). June, 2008, was the eighth straight month of declining vehicle-miles traveled (VMT). DOT’s July 28 release showed a decline of 29.8 billion vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on U.S. roads from January to May. Transportation Energy Data Book About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Sep 16, 2008: Railroad Passengers Urge Presidential Candidates to Consider Train InvestmentsRelease #08-18—September 16, 2008 As the Presidential election season heats up, the National Association of Railroad Passengers has urged the campaigns of both major parties to make greater federal investments in our national passenger train system a key part of plans to address economic, environmental, and energy challenges. NARP also asked “the candidates to make the same case to your colleagues on Capitol Hill” and to explain how the candidates, “as president, would ensure greater funding for passenger trains.” In letters to Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ), NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon noted that, “Passenger trains are one positive response to this confluence of national dilemmas,” of increasing oil prices and economic challenges. “Americans are flocking to trains as airline and private vehicle travel becomes more expensive and less convenient. July 2008 was the highest ridership month in Amtrak’s 37-year history, with 14% more passengers than in July 2007. Individual routes recorded up to 43% even as Americans drove and flew less. Similarly, domestic travel over the Labor Day weekend this year increased on Amtrak but declined on other modes. “Amtrak is reaching capacity limits on its…inadequate fleet. Federal policy must empower Amtrak to invest in a renewed, expanded fleet. Amtrak will need at least $1.9 billion in Fiscal Year 2009 – including $100 million to repair sidelined rolling stock – to meet immediate growth needs.” He also noted the superior energy efficiency of passenger trains—even with Amtrak’s aging fleet—and urged rapid expansion of the newly-created federal program to match state intercity passenger train investments. The letter noted that Congress last week quickly approved putting “$8 billion of general funds into the Highway Trust Fund and now is seriously considering a huge favored lending program for the Big Three [automakers]. Surely, therefore, Congress also can increase intercity passenger train funding by $600 million in fiscal 2009 and send S. 294 to the White House. “The highway and automaker efforts are understandable…but they reinforce dependence on energy-intensive automobiles and make it even more important for a balancing action that puts people to work building energy-efficient passenger train systems.” The House and Senate both passed the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act, a five-year passenger rail reauthorization, by veto-proof margins. S. 294 authorizes a longer term funding framework, including more state matching grants. The full text of the letter is available here on our website. About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Sep 23, 2008: Railroad Passengers Urgently Seek Nationwide Deployment of Life-Saving Positive Train ControlRelease #08-19—September 23, 2008 The National Association of Railroad Passengers today called upon Congress and the Bush Administration, regulators, and the railroad industry to move ahead as quickly as possible with implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC), a train collision-avoidance system that could have prevented the loss of 25 lives in the Metrolink-Union Pacific collision in Chatsworth, CA on September 12. “The technology involving global-positioning satellites and other components to stop trains from running red signals is already in limited use on BNSF Railway. Due to common use of a single vendor by the four major private railroads and Metra, the big Chicago area commuter railroad, a de facto national standard for PTC already exists,” said NARP Executive Director Ross B. Capon. PTC also automatically slows trains when they run too fast by a “yellow” signal, and offers substantial additional benefits. In general, the private benefits include improved asset utilization, faster running times and greater reliability, along with increased revenues and/or traffic that result. The “public-and-private” benefits include—besides safer operations—improvements related to security, capacity, fuel consumption and the environment (reduced emissions per freight ton-mile or passenger-mile). Capon noted, “While major train accidents are thankfully few and far between, each one is followed by expressions of surprise from reporters and even some public officials that trains do not already enjoy the kind of safety protection that PTC offers. We are now at the stage where the right commitment of money both by the federal government and the private railroads can fix this gaping hole in the U.S. transportation’s safety net.” Two pending bills in the Congress would begin to address the need for PTC by requiring Class I railroads (the seven largest privately-owned railroads) to implement PTC in the coming years. The Rail Collision Prevention Act, which Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced last week, would require PTC on our nation’s railroads by the end of 2014. The Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007, H.R. 2095—which has passed both chambers of Congress, cleared a conference committee, and may see final action before adjournment this week—would require PTC by the end of 2018. “The next step is implementing a funding mechanism,” said Capon. [The bill the House passed September 24 sets a deadline of December 31, 2015 for installing PTC “on all main-line track where intercity passenger railroads and commuter railroads operate and where toxic-by-inhalation hazardous materials are transported.” Quote is from a committee summary of the bill.] About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Sep 24, 2008: Rail Passengers Support Combined Rail Safety and Amtrak Reauthorization BillRelease #08-20—September 24, 2008 The following is a statement from National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) Executive Director Ross B. Capon: “NARP is pleased that an agreement has been reached in conference committee to move forward both the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (including Amtrak reauthorization and funding for state projects) and a rail safety package with a Positive Train Control mandate. House passage is expected today, after which the bill would go to the Senate. We urge Senators who have in the past held up this legislation to permit its swift consideration and passage. “The legislation is timely in light of ever increasing demand for passenger train service and, sadly, the September 12 Metrolink tragedy in Chatworth, California. The Positive Train Control (PTC) provision will save lives and in improve railroad efficiency.”
NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Sep 26, 2008: Railroad Passengers Endorse Passenger Train Funding in Economic Stimulus BillRelease #08-21—September 26, 2008 The following is a statement from National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) Executive Director Ross B. Capon: “We are very pleased that House and Senate appropriators understand the importance of investment in America’s passenger train network. Funds in the pending economic stimulus bill will permit Amtrak to return damaged passenger rail cars to service. This would put Americans to work rehabilitating the equipment while letting Amtrak better meet growing demand for its services. “Amtrak should exceed 28 million passengers in the year to September 30, an all-time high. August ridership was 10.5% higher than last August. Ridership through the first 11 months of Fiscal 2008 was up 11.2% from the year-earlier period, and 2% above ridership for the full 12 months of Fiscal 2007! “High gas prices and reduced airline capacity has intensified a longstanding growth trend for Amtrak, as Fiscal 2008 will be the sixth straight year of ridership growth. This stimulus bill will make possible even more ridership growth.” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Oct 01, 2008: Rail Passengers Hail Passage of Combined Rail Safety and Amtrak Reauthorization BillRelease #08-22—October 1, 2008 The following is a statement from National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP) Executive Director Ross B. Capon: “NARP congratulates Congress on passing H.R. 2095, the Rail Safety Improvement Act including the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act. Tonight’s 74-24 vote in the Senate and passage by voice vote September 24 in the House reflect strong, bipartisan, nationwide support for a safer, bigger passenger train network. This support transcends political differences. “It is consistent with what people are doing. In Richmond yesterday, Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters said ‘transit and rail are seeing record growth,’ noted that Amtrak carried more riders in July than in any month of its history, and said Americans drove 3.6 percent less, or 9.6 billion miles fewer, in July 2008 than July 2007. “Tonight’s vote in the Senate culminates a long process. The Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act was first introduced in 2005 as S. 1516. “Reauthorizing Amtrak does not guarantee funding. Passenger train supporters on Capitol Hill and around the nation must continue to work to see that the White House and Amtrak actually request—and Congress provides—the authorized funding so that we can meet growing demand for trains. H.R. 2095 includes increased funding for state partnerships, studies of reinstating the North Coast Hiawatha and Pioneer routes, and a requirement that Amtrak develop a plan to restore service between New Orleans and Florida. “The safety provisions of H.R. 2095 also will provide a significant shot in the arm for the railroad industry, which has also voiced support for the measure. By mandating and assisting with the deployment of Positive Train Control, this legislation will allow a more efficient and safer rail system for both passengers and freight. “We thank all those who worked hard to get this bill passed and urge President Bush to sign H.R. 2095 into law promptly.” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Nov 06, 2008: Rail Passengers Endorse Train Stimulus Component; Reiterate Hudson River Tunnel ConcernsRelease #08-23—November 6, 2008 In a statement submitted for the record in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s October 29 hearing on “Investing in Infrastructure: The Road to Recovery,” NARP President Ross B. Capon called upon Congress to invest in our national intercity passenger train network as a reliable, affordable way to bring broad economic benefits to the nation as part of a second economic stimulus bill. “In a fragile economy, it is essential to have affordable mobility,” Capon noted. “Travel stimulates the economy. If Americans can’t travel by other means, they will stay at home and not spend money on travel and at destinations, further depressing recovery efforts.” The immediate economic benefits of passenger trains Capon cited include job creation, more travel choices for Americans, a transportation system that is safer, more energy efficient and more environmentally benign, and incentives for energy-efficient, pedestrian-friendly station-area real estate development. Capon endorsed Amtrak’s testimony at the hearing, including their proposal to return all 81 sidelined Amfleet cars to service as well as to upgrade Amtrak-owned infrastructure, and assist with meeting the Positive Train Control mandate of H.R. 2095. But he also urged rehabilitating sidelined Superliner cars, the versatile backbone of Amtrak’s Western fleet and supported a substantial investment in state-led passenger train investments. He noted that, after U.S. DOT’s recent dispersal of $30 million to states, a “substantial number of [state-led] projects are ready to go but still seeking federal funds.” Finally, Capon reiterated NARP’s grave concerns regarding New Jersey Transit’s Access to the Region’s Core (Hudson River railroad tunnels) project, which is currently proposed as a dead-end tunnel terminating in a deep-cavern station at 34th Street, without the formerly planned track connection to New York Penn Station. Capon said that NARP “strongly urge[s] that the stimulus bill include the additional funding necessary to connect the… tunnels to New York’s Penn Station and require that this connection be restored. It is unthinkable to allow this $8 billion, New Jersey Transit project to proceed in a manner that leaves Penn Station with the same, tenuous links to New Jersey and all points west and south as currently exist, and makes more difficult any attempt far into the future to remedy the situation.” Capon said that, while NARP’s “focus has been on restoring the link to New York Penn Station that was part of NJT’s plan until mid-2007, we remain concerned that so much secrecy has shrouded the 2003 report which ought to reveal the practicality of extending tracks to Grand Central (and thus whether creating a new NJT terminal near Penn Station is really an appropriate use of scarce resources).” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Nov 14, 2008: Rail Passengers statement on the resignation of Amtrak CEO Alex KummantStatement of Ross B. Capon On the resignation of Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant November 14, 2008 “NARP appreciates the work that Mr. Kummant did during his tenure at Amtrak, and the good relationship that he maintained with the organization. We are particularly appreciative of his defense of the national network of long distance trains and of Amtrak’s efforts under his leadership to get a decent resolution of issues surrounding the controversial Access to the Regions Core (ARC) project to add more capacity under the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York City. “We believe that the company will be in good hands with William Crosbie, currently Amtrak’s Chief Operating Officer, as the acting CEO. “The next CEO of Amtrak must work hard to ensure that Amtrak’s recent growth continues. Now can be a renaissance moment for passenger trains in America, especially with the recent passage of the Amtrak reauthorization bill. However, huge and growing demands on the federal budget from all directions make it more important than ever that the new CEO be able to guide the company aggressively and successfully.” About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Nov 25, 2008: Rail Passengers statement on the appointment of Joseph Boardman as Amtrak CEOStatement of Ross B. Capon On the appointment of Joseph Boardman as Amtrak CEO “NARP applauds the Amtrak Board’s quick action in appointing a distinguished, knowledgeable and hard-nosed leader like Boardman. There is a desperate need for passenger trains to be properly represented in any stimulus package under development. Thus it is essential right now to have a forceful, well-known person at the helm of Amtrak. We believe Joe Boardman fits the bill. About NARP NARP is the largest citizen-based organization advocating for train and rail transit passengers. We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger train service in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modern, customer-focused national passenger train network that provides a travel choice Americans want. Our work is supported by over 24,000 individual members. Dec 18, 2008: Rail Passengers Praise Weyrich as Rail and Transit AdvocateDecember 18, 2008 Paul M. Weyrich, though most widely known as a major force in the conservative movement, also was a vigorous advocate both for rail transit and intercity passenger trains. This was reflected in his work on Capitol Hill, and his service on the Amtrak Board of Directors, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission (NSTPRSC), and as publisher of The New Electric Railway Journal. NARP President Ross Capon today observed, “Advocates of rail passenger service have lost a very powerful voice in the passing of Paul Weyrich. He demonstrated that passenger train service is a critical part of a balanced transportation system and is consistent with conservative values.” Illustrating Weyrich’s effectiveness, NSTPRSC Commissioner Tom Skancke of Nevada said at a December 6, 2007, news conference at Washington Union Station, “Over the past 18 months, Paul and Frank [Wisconsin DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi] have done a marvelous job of educating me and the rest of the commissioners about passenger rail and transit. I’m now an advocate and think rail is the future of transportation in the U.S. It has to be” (quoted in our February, 2008, newsletter). At the Commission’s January 15, 2008, news conference at the National Press Club, Weyrich himself said, “I am a conservative Republican…I generally don’t favor raising other taxes [but] I don’t see any alternative [to increasing the gasoline tax now]” (our March, 2008, newsletter). Weyrich, a long-time member of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, addressed the organization’s board at its October, 2000, meeting in Pittsfield, Mass. He talked of his role (as aide to Sen. Gordon Allott, R-CO) in making sure that the legislation creating what became Amtrak reached President Nixon in San Clemente ahead of staff that was going to recommend against signing. Weyrich emphasized providing “choices” as a conservative value—and as something that trains and transit do. Indeed, “The Need for Choice in Transportation” was the title of his Sept. 24, 2008, column, which cited the Commission’s support for highway tolling and stated in part, “If America is to invest in the level of mass transit needed to give taxpayers a real choice to drive or take transit, revenues must increase significantly at the state and local levels. Some have claimed that the Commission is too pro-rail. That charge is false. We are for giving citizens a choice. If they elect to drive they ought to pay more of the actual cost of that decision. If they choose transit we would need to face this fact. Half of America has no real transit facilities available. Those which do offer an alternative are often unattractive, do not keep a reliable schedule and in some cases do not go where people want to go.” As consultant to the American Public Transportation Association, he co-authored with William S. Lind several valuable advocacy papers. Among the many listed when one searches “Weyrich” at the APTA website are: Winning Transit Referenda: Some Conservative Advice (April 2005), Bring Back the Streetcars! A Conservative Vision of Tomorrow’s Urban Transportation (A Study Prepared by the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation, June 2002) After attending the Washington Union Station 100th anniversary observance on October 5, 2008, Weyrich wrote, in part: “I don’t always agree with Prince Charles but when it comes to architecture he is spot on. He has made it clear that he believes classical architecture is a tribute to God Almighty. I could not agree more.” |
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