Resources & Links

After monitoring levels of fine particulates in the air while riding Los Angeles Metro Red Line (below ground) and Gold Line (aboveground light rail) trains, and on Southern California freeways, a University of Southern California professor concludes that, while the Red Line’s air is a bit dirtier than the Gold Line’s (and that of an average spot in metropolitan L.A.), the freeway air has “five to 10 times higher” concentrations of particulates than a typical urban site.

Transcript and link to audio recording of US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s address to NARP leaders and supporters during the Association’s 2011 Capitol Hill Reception.

This piece by Robert Rapier appeared in the Washington Post’s Outlook section on March 27, 2011. Rapier explains why gas prices are on the rise and how Europeans have been living well despite much higher gas prices for decades (a more robust passenger train and transit network is a key piece).

In response to Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich’s threat to kill the nascent project to build an intercity passenger train link between Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland, outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland wrote this letter [PDF] which lays out the economic benefits Ohio stands to lose if it forestalls the start of train service.

A study commissioned by the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers concludes that the three Amtrak routes serving Michigan bring over $62 million in direct economic benefit to the state each year, breaking this down by route and by type of benefit.

Presentations and talks given by distinguished invited guest speakers before NARP’s Council of Representatives at its twice-yearly meetings.

Encouraged by the high-speed rail funds in the Recovery Act, a group of state legislators, business leaders and leaders of health, transit and environmental nonprofits wrote [PDF] to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R) on March 27, pushing him to seek federal funding for passenger train improvements.  (In a July 1 letter to NARP members in Indiana, NARP Council Member Steven Coxhead of Hammond has urged NARP members to contact the governor and state legislators directly.)

In a January, 2006 report, “High Speed Rail and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.”, the Center for Clean Air Policy and the Center for Neighborhood Technology demonstrate that, “high speed rail, if built as planned, will generate substantial GHG savings in all regions.”

A resolution passed October 20, 2006, by the Southern Rapid Rail Transit Commission that pledges “to work with Amtrak in support of planning, funding, and implementation of new regional intercity passenger rail service east of New Orleans” and (NEW!) a letter from SRRTC to Amtrak CEO Alex Kummant urging Amtrak not to formally discontinue the Sunset Limited.

Opinion polls show that Americans want more, better, faster, and convenient passenger trains.  Here’s a compilation of such polls over recent years.

Dr. Vuchic is a UPS Foundation Professor of Transportation Systems Engineering and Professor of City & Regional Planning at University of Pennsylvania.  He is a widely-recognized authority on intercity passenger rail.  There are three letters on this page (from top to bottom): Vuchic’s May 23, 2006 letter to Mineta, Mineta’s July 3 response to Vuchic, and Vuchic’s July 28 response to Mineta and Mineta’s sucessor.

by Paul M. Weyrich and William S. Lind of the Free Congress Foundation—which is supportive of rail transit. (article on the APTA website)

posted by Florida DOT in mid-2000.  Provides a future blueprint for expansion of conventional rail service.

Two opinion polls show that the American taxpayer wants passenger rail!

A 2003 study by the Montana Department of Transportation that outlines the economic benifits Amtrak’s Empire Builder to state of Montana

A page on the North Carolina DOT Rail website that discusses future service expansions to western and southeastern North Carolina.

Requesting full funding of Amtrak’s fiscal 2007 appropriation request.

Democratice members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure demand answers from Amtrak Chairman David Laney about the termination of David L. Gunn as Amtrak’s President and CEO.

Rep. Corrine Brown responds to Secretary Mineta’s statement that Amtrak is a “systemic failure”

Rep. Corrine Brown responds to a meeting with Chairman Laney regarding the Amtrak Board’s actions to create a subsidiary to operate the Northeast Corridor

November 22, 2004 Department of Transportation’s Office of the Inspector General (DOT-OIG) Congressionally-mandated report on the state of Amtrak.