Washington Rail News December 2011/January 2012

www.AllAboardWashington.org

Publication of All Aboard Washington A Not-for-profit Consumer Organization “Moving forward...On Rail."

More trains for NW may mean no more service By C. B. Hall sengers, and thus at higher speeds, than This article was published November 11, conventional, non-tilting equipment. This 2011 in Crosscut.com, operated by Crosscut Public Media. It is reprinted by permission. feature translates into a Seattle-Portland trip 25 minutes faster than it would be in The Pacific Northwest's pool of pas- a conventional train, such as Amtrak runs senger-rail equipment will get a boost elsewhere. next June, when the Oregon Department When the trainsets enter service next of Transportation (ODOT) takes delivery year, they will do so as part of the exist- Photo by Jim Hamre Amtrak’s extra Thanksgiving Holi- of new trains purchased from the ing pool, allowing the other Talgos more day train 511 passes through Puyallup Spanish-owned Talgo company. The two down time but not occasioning any new on November 23. Amtrak added a total of trains, built at Talgo's plant in Wisconsin, “frequencies,” or scheduled services. 11 extra trips on Wednesday, Thursday, will complement the five Talgos that al- They will allow flexibility for better sched- Saturday and Sunday during the holiday ready ply the high speed rail (HSR) corri- uling – Oregon “may be able,” Snow period, traditionally Amtrak’s busiest dor between Eugene, Ore., and Vancou- stated, to shift one Portland-to-Eugene week of the year. The equipment used ver, B.C. There's just one problem: the train to a more appealing morning time was a mix of Amfleet and Horizon arrival of $37 million worth of rolling stock slot. But beyond that, passenger rail ad- equipment. Between Seattle and Port- won't translate any time soon into any in- vocates, taxpayers, and travelers will not land, trains were almost completely sold crease in service. see much of a return soon. out on Wednesday, Thursday morning “No new schedules will be added,” The new trainsets will essentially act and Sunday. stated ODOT spokeswoman Shelley as spares, confirms Laura Kingman, Then it rained on Wednesday and the Snow, in an e-mail interview. spokeswoman for the Rail and Marine inevitable happened: BNSF had an early ODOT is receiving two entire Talgo Division of the Washington State De- morning mudslide near Mukilteo and shut trainsets – sets of cars operated as sin- partment of Transportation (WSDOT). down the Seattle-Everett line for its 48 gle, articulated units. The Talgo equip- Whether the corridor needs that much hour embargo of passenger train move- ment has played a key role in reviving the spare equipment is debatable: the exist- ments, disrupting travel plans for hun- corridor's passenger rail service, branded ing pool of Talgos is highly reliable. Only once last year, Kingman said, did dreds of travelers and commuters. a Talgo have to be removed from Amtrak, as usual, had to scramble to service. A Talgo technician trav- charter buses to move passengers be- els on every train, watching the tween Seattle and Vancouver, BC. equipment for any possible But passengers want to ride trains, trouble. not buses. Many interviewed on TV were WSDOT's plans call for ex- not happy about being bused. All Aboard panding the Portland-Seattle Washington does not understand why Cascades service from its pre- people must be bused all the way to sent four round-trips to six. How- Vancouver when the mudslide is south of ever, those plans aren't slated to (See Thanksgiving, page 4) become reality until 2017, when Talgo America rendering of the new trainsets a new alignment through the Ta- Pres. Obama signed the 2012 funding bill under construction for Oregon and Wisconsin. coma suburb of Lakewood, for surface transportation on Nov. 18. Pictured at the lead is the cab control car. among other improvements, will The bill, adopted after a conference committee compromise, sets Amtrak’s be completed. That planning has as Amtrak Cascades. Oregon and operating grant at a alarmingly tight $466 Washington are the national provider's proceeded more or less independently of million, which is $95 million below the state partners for the service, furnishing what Oregon might be doing. The new 2011 level. A House provision to prohibit funding, marketing, and strategic direc- trainsets would be available to cover federal funding for state supported corri- tion while Amtrak supplies operational those new round-trips, but 2017 is a long dors was, thankfully, dropped. Its inclu- expertise, the locomotives, and some way off. Even those new round-trips, sion would have led to the end of 150 funding of its own. however, will only represent 12 to 14 new trains a day, including our Cascades. Because the Talgo cars tilt inward in hours of service time daily, a good bit The high speed rail program was also curves, they can negotiate those curves less than what the trainsets in theory zeroed out for the year. For complete with reduced centrifugal force for pas- (See More trains, page 4) details visit the NARP website, www.narprail.org, and click on Blog. page 2 increase for our trains each year.) From the desk of A most affirmative aspect of the the Executive Annual Meeting was the many im- Director portant issues and good ideas ad- vanced by our members: by Colin McLean, a member from Lloyd H. Flem Blaine, unable to attend, had mailed a strong case for preservation of the Good Ideas from AAWA currently-unused (old Great North- Guests and members at our annual All Aboard Washington general membership meeting Members! ern) Blaine station. General discus- sion was strongly in favor of AAWA listen to one of the presentations. About 50 All Aboard Washington’s Annual support for the station’s preservation people were in attendance. Meeting, held at the Centralia Depot’s and possible use as a future Amtrak Two Photos by Jim Hamre fine meeting room on Saturday Novem- Cascades stop. (See the October/ snack/sundries store and newsstand, and ber 19 was full of about 50 AAWA mem- November 2010 Washington Rail bers and guests, many of whom had ar- adjoins a high-end restaurant, KSS has News.) rived at the Lewis County city by train, only Amtrak services. AAWA will join Newly-elected Board member Karen from north and south. (The mutual par- others in seeking a return to some basic Keller, in concert with the theme of con- ticipation and support between AAWA services at KSS. nectivity of transportation modes, urged and our Oregon counterpart, the Assoc. Amtrak travel literature refers to sta- AAWA work to have Vancouver, WA C- of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, is tions like Olympia-Lacey (OLW) and Tran transit buses serve the very busy the best ever. And this echoes the in- Kelso as “unstaffed,” same status as Amtrak Station, now not done. With the creased cooperation between the Wash- Tukwila or Stanwood. Yet OLW has its growing number of attractions in the vin- ington and Oregon DOTs.) superb corps of volunteers who have tage Clark County city, lacking that con- Speakers from kept Centennial Station open and hospi- nection is puzzling. Again, it was agreed the Centralia table, never having missed a train – even this is something for which AAWA should Downtown Associ- very late ones arriving after midnight – advocate. ation (CDA), Re- since the station opened early in 1993! Board member George Barner felt we naissance Che- There thus is a class of station which do have a responsibility to educate the next halis, and Twin not have the services of an Amtrak generation on the importance, advantage Transit spoke of agent, but should be differently described – and fun – of passenger trains. Barner cooperation among than “unstaffed.” We support Amtrak said many of us can approach school the entities thus agents at all stations, but recognize the administrators and get permission to Jeff Miller represented and ongoing financial limitations Amtrak en- speak with students about trains gener- the importance of passenger trains for dures. And we applaud the initiative local ally and train riding possibilities in our re- the economic growth of their communi- people have exhibited in volunteering to gion specifically. George said the worst ties, hard hit in recent years by a variety establish successful hosting programs result was the possibility of a negative of economic setbacks. Despite our Cen- where Amtrak agents aren’t found. answer. Middle school students (grades tralia host, CDA director Jeff Miller’s best Concerned about the future of the Ta- 5-8) are the likely target audience. Many efforts to attract local business and coma Station, members hoped more teachers and administrators would wel- elected leaders to attend either our Fri- comprehensive plans would be advanced come “experts” like us to spread the idea day November 18 evening reception or for the use of Freighthouse Square, of this most safe, environmentally sound our meeting, very few of them chose to which will come into play following com- and enjoyable mode of travel. (I was a come. However, visiting rail advocates pletion of the Point Defiance Rail Bypass middle school teacher in a past life and did enjoy lunch at the century-old project. (Some folks still think the grand would assist anyone who plans to speak McMenamin’s Olympic Club pub and old Tacoma Union Station, now a federal to school kids about our trains.) restaurant (an AAWA member), several courthouse, is where one catches and Because the Centralia Depot has reg- stayed overnight at the Olympic Club meets passenger trains though Amtrak ular Amtrak agents for only one work shift Hotel, and a number perused the many has been at its current location for over a day, the final three (of the total of ten) antique and specialty stores in downtown 25 years!) trains daily not only have no agent, but Centralia. Several people, including new Board the nicely-restored facility is locked tight, The principal message AAWA Presi- member Louis Musso of Cle Elum, ad- forcing passengers and guests to stand dent Loren Herrigstad, Vice President vanced the need for a full Amtrak stop at in the weather and preventing ticketing Jim Hamre and I made in reference to Joint Base Lewis-McCord, also following and checked baggage service. Minimally, state and federal issues was that new completion of the Rail Bypass, which will the depot, the restoration paid for mostly government money for rail or most other put Amtrak and Sounder trains right near with non-local public funds, should re- programs will be scarce, but that we in the JBLM Main Gate. main open, with volunteer community WA did very well with capital money from A great set of issues and ideas! While members as hosts, such as at the Olym- federal ARRA (stimulus) grants. We must I plan to follow up on all of them, AAWA pia-Lacey and Kelso stations. AAWA will work, though, to at least maintain federal members, particularly, though not exclu- help Lewis County people who want this funding for Amtrak (more High(er) Speed sively, those who brought them to the to occur. Rail grants seem very unlikely, at least meeting’s attention, need now to be fur- The lack of any auxiliary services at until 2013), and for state dollars to cover ther involved. King Street Station was another concern the share of operating costs not paid for  mentioned. Unlike Portland Union Sta- by the fare box or federal contribution. On November 23, leaders from tion, which has a very complete (Remember, fare box returns continue to (See Flem, page 5) page 3 fits of one mode, and move to another fect their commute with tolling of the Co- The View mode? In some cases, the overlap of lumbia River bridges. After all, if the milk modes seems like it would be redundant, is free, why buy the cow? Down the but in reality, there is a preferable Yet King County, the one most af- Tracks balance. fected by passage of this initiative, voted ======Do I need a train to go to the grocery heavily against it. with Jim Cusick store or to Home Depot? Have you ever And most counties in rural eastern been able to carry your purchases from Washington voted in favor of it. Yakima, Getting in the mood Home Depot in anything but a pickup Kittitas and Okanogan lead, with Grant Along with lobbying for better train truck? No to both. and Douglas right behind. service, we at All Aboard Washington If you look at the area surrounding the What would the motivation be, except also believe more people should try train East Coast cities such as Washington, distrust in government? travel. If you’re not sure how to get peo- DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Even if you were to try and toll a rural ple to ride the train… Boston, you see that modes are shared. highway, there just aren’t that many peo- Have them take a plane flight! I just I’m not talking about the downtown cores ple that use a particular highway to make did. of these cities, which are dominated by it worth the effort. The argument of what Going through security at the airport rail, I’m talking about the suburban areas. private party would invest in a paved ru- gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. In the suburbs, the freeways don’t be- ral highway, since the payback would be No, the TSA agent wasn’t wearing come 10 lane mega-highways as they do non-existent, brings up two issues. fleece gloves. Who subsidizes whom, and if you Actually, Sea-Tac security wasn’t as If you’re not sure how to think the government is so bad and the bad as I expected. I’m making the guess get people to ride the capitalist model so good, then are you that they are starting to profile people, arguing for private roads? and came to the conclusion I was train … Have them take All Aboard members in eastern harmless. a plane flight! I just did. Washington need to help save their un- However, it was the plane flight that informed neighbors in the rural areas really convinces me train travel is the around the Puget Sound region. Termi- from themselves. way to go. No, the flight crew was pro- nating them in the large cities would be Have you ever seen the laser light fessional and pleasant, given how impossible, given that no real estate show at the Grand Coulee Dam? This packed it was, but the key word here is would be available, so the suburban isn’t a psychedelic rock’n’roll kind of “packed,” like cordwood. areas have grown up around and con- show, this light show is a history lesson. Since mine was a coast-to-coast trip, tinue to make use of their existing rail It tells how and why the Grand Coulee the five+ hours I was shoehorned into networks. Dam and the surrounding projects are the seat is the price I have to pay for Even in the more rural areas they there. speed, I guess. keep commuter rail service into the met- Brought to you by … the Bureau of The economics of plane flight tend to ropolitan areas intact, so that the local Reclamation. force the issue, since the energy penalty roadways don’t have to grow out of scale KIRO radio’s Dave Ross, in many of of air travel is much higher than steel- to the surrounding countryside. his talk shows that deal with “cutting the wheel on steel-rail. The higher cost of Then why run a rail service into the state budget, starting with the waste,” fuel makes it even more imperative the hinterlands? challenges his listeners to identify who’s airlines fill planes and keep fares high. We don’t stop air traffic control over getting what subsidy, and getting no spe- Flying isn’t cheap. If it were, airlines the wide open spaces of the west. cific response, came to the conclusion in would be serving real food and building We don’t have the interstates revert to a discussion with a state representative their own airports with the profits. dirt roads in the rural areas. from east of the mountains, that maybe Oh yeah, in the olden days the rail- The freight railroads keep the tracks the legislature should just cut anything in roads built their own stations, didn’t they? intact in those areas because it’s part of a county that isn’t paying for itself via the But that’s what taxes are for nowadays. the connectivity, and some industries do tax base of that county. But another trip convinced me of the locate themselves in the hinterlands. The legislator he was talking to con- real benefit of rail travel. And it was a Coal and grain shippers, for instance. tritely agreed with Dave about the dis- much shorter five hour trip, this time to Why stop Amtrak service if you’re not connect. The legislator understood. eastern Washington. In this case, the ve- going to face the logical conclusion that Think about it, if it is an almost reli- hicle for the return trip was already there air service and paved roads couldn’t pay gious belief that dictates that government at the summer cabin and it meant we for themselves providing service to these is so bad, then maybe we should dis- didn’t have to take two cars for that areas. solve the Bureau of Reclamation and let outing. I support infrastructure into these the farmers form a co-op. Is that what The important part was, since I’m areas, both monetarily and politically. people are really asking for? Dissolve the generally the one who is the driver on I-1125 – FAIL! collective support of our state economy and infrastructure? those trips, the train ride was much more Thankfully this initiative failed at the We’ve listened to the likes of Rush pleasant for me because the only shoe- ballot box. However, the margin was too Limbaugh, Bill O’Reilly, and MSNBC’s Ed horning would have been with one close, and from looking at the map, some Schultz (The Ed Show) for too long, packed in my suitcase. of the voting patterns were odd, to say We’ve lost the ability to argue reason- The key for planning a good trans- the least. ably with a positive outcome in mind. portation system is finding where the tip- I suspect Cowlitz, Clark and Skama- But all is not lost. ping point is. nia voted for it because of their proximity (See Cusick, page 5) Where do you change from the bene- to Portland, and this would seriously af- page 4 ing that his boss “has always supported re- ment is going to go where. That's part of More trains, from page 1 storing passenger rail service east out of what the fleet management plan is going to provide. Portland, but the availability of passenger determine.” Completion of the plan, she Among people who ponder such issues, cars is the least of the problems facing this said, is expected within a couple of months. no shortage of ideas exists as to where the issue. The biggest issue is the willingness Still, given how well the Talgos have per- new equipment could fill a need. The Asso- of Amtrak and the Union Pacific to restore formed to date, it seems that the new trains ciation of Oregon Rail and Transit Advo- passenger service from Portland to Boise will be little more than extra equipment for cates (AORTA) backs WSDOT's plan for and beyond." several years. new frequencies between the Emerald and Rynerson also suggested a daytime One can perhaps ascribe the situation Rose cities, but some ask why the thinking train between Portland and the passenger to a lack of coordination between the two remains stuck in the box of the existing rail hub of Sacramento. In Washington states that has existed in spite of their being Eugene-Vancouver corridor. state, a service linking Seattle and Spokane coupled to each other in an HSR corridor “It wouldn't hurt my personal feelings if via Yakima, which hasn't seen passenger designated as such 19 years ago. As late one of those trains were used to develop a service since 1979, has its backers. as 2009, the year before Oregon finalized pilot service between Boise and Portland,” Kingman had heard the arguments for a the Talgo order, “WSDOT was predicting it AORTA president Donald Leap put it. new Spokane train occasionally “just from would add two additional Portland-Seattle "We've got to think beyond the Willamette people writing in,” but said, “we have to round-trips by 2012 or 2013,” Snow said, Valley.” maximize revenue in the area that we're elaborating on ODOT's reasoning in a “These trainsets could be used on a currently working in before we look at any- phone interview. “So there's only five train- Seattle-Portland-Boise run,” wrote Robert thing else.” sets available for that, none of them owned Rynerson, expanding on Leap's thinking in ”We don't have the money to do that by Oregon. So we had to step in to protect an email interview. Rynerson, a Portland currently,” referring to the Spokane idea, or the Portland-to-Eugene route. We were native and longtime passenger rail advo- even the drafting of a business plan for using borrowed equipment. That's when we cate who worked as a transportation plan- such an eventuality. decided to buy the two trainsets and add ner at ODOT back in the 1970s, crunches In Oregon, ODOT's Snow wrote in an them to the corridor pool. So WSDOT can schedules these days for Denver's Re- email follow-up, “no proposals [for service do their expansions as they want and it will gional Transportation District. “Some pre- outside the Willamette Valley] have been not endanger the Oregon [Portland- liminary work regarding improvements to proffered by any entity (Amtrak, WSDOT, Eugene] round-trips.” the Union Pacific line east of Portland was ODOT, Idaho or California) that we know of The purchase, she added, “puts Oregon done by a consultant for Amtrak, but a seri- – we do know neither Oregon nor Wash- at the table in discussions about passenger ous follow-up to get reliable cost estimates ington have financial resources to support rail service in the Northwest. We were would be needed.” passenger rail service outside the Cas- something of an outsider before this.” On a 2008 tour, he added, he was cades corridor.” "WSDOT is excited ODOT is taking this “amazed to find so many stations ready to Her statement contrasts with the views step to acquire equipment for the Amtrak serve passengers.” of, among others, Bruce Agnew, director of Cascades fleet," Kingman responded in an The Amtrak consultant performed the Seattle's Cascadia Center for Regional De- e-mail. "We look forward to continuing to work Rynerson mentioned for a study on velopment. “Having them [the new train- work together." restoration of the Seattle-Boise-Denver Pi- sets] sitting around unused is going to While discussions between Olympia oneer train, which Amtrak killed in 1997 and cause a public backlash,” he said. “You and Salem proceed, a lot of hopes are still has no plans to reinstate. In an email inter- gotta use the equipment. If it is in fact avail- standing in the station – waiting for a train. view, a spokesman for Boise Mayor David able, then we ought to look into, with our Bieter stated that the city, which owns and C.B. Hall is a freelance writer and has been congressional delegation, operating it be- following Pacific Northwest transportation issues maintains the Boise depot as an event tween Seattle or at least Portland and since the 1990s. venue, “supports the re-establishment of Boise, as a case study for east-of-the- the train service through the Boise Depot mountains use of the Talgo trains, with les- Thanksgiving, from page 1 because it would put Southern Idaho back sons that can be applied to our proposal to on the passenger rail map and would be add a second, daylight passenger rail ser- Everett. Amtrak needs to bus its customers tremendously beneficial to our state's vice to Spokane from Seattle. We're push- the shortest distance possible. In this case, when BNSF reopens the track to freights economy. We have joined with members of ing for that in the new revenue package.” and passenger equipment without passen- our congressional delegation in support of He alluded to his own organization and bringing the Amtrak Pioneer line back.” Washington's passenger rail advocacy gers between Everett and Seattle, Amtrak Sen. Mike Crapo, an Idaho Republican, group, All Aboard Washington, and to their needs to deadhead equipment and bus passengers between these two cities, and has worked with Oregon Democratic Sen. position on transportation funding talks un- then allow passengers to ride the Cascades Ron Wyden in support of the Portland- der way in Olympia. Boise service concept, and Crapo's thinking Agnew stressed that he didn't favor di- between Everett and Vancouver. accords with Leap's and Rynerson's pro- verting the new equipment from eventual WSDOT issued a press release about the service disruption on Wednesday the posal. “The request made by Senators use west of the mountains, “but if they're 23rd. The agency also noted it is working Crapo, Wyden and others for Amtrak to ex- sitting there, we should use them on a pilot amine a return of the Pioneer remains ac- basis. If we can do it [a Boise service] op- with BNSF on the mudslide problem: tive,” said Lindsay Nothern of Crapo’s Boise erationally without endangering the Cas- Providing reliable passenger rail ser- office in an e-mail. “The possibility of mini- cades, we'll get political support for capital vice is critical to the success of Amtrak Cascades and WSDOT is taking action mizing costs for a potential test train on the and operating funds for rail in the legislature Pioneer route is exciting and may eventu- from the east side of the mountains.” to reduce these service disruptions. ally provide some of the answers that WSDOT's Kingman emphasized the WSDOT and BNSF continue to discuss the 48-hour moratorium, exploring op- Amtrak says it needs to determine a return fluidity of the situation. “We're working with tions for reducing the amount of time of service to the region.” ODOT to develop a fleet management plan Speaking for Wyden, Tom Towslee of that will look at both the short term and the that passenger service is restricted af- the senator's Portland office was more in- long term to reduce costs and maximize ter a mudslide. Washington state re- cently received $16.1 million in federal clined to see the glass as half-empty, stat- service. I don't know exactly which equip- (See Mudslide, page 5) page 5

All Aboard Washington Officers Important Addresses and Phone Numbers Loren Herrigstad, Centralia..President ...... 360 736-5783 .. [email protected] U. S. House of Representatives: Jim Hamre, Puyallup..Vice President ...... 253 848-2473 .. [email protected] Washington, DC 20515 Rocky Shay, Federal Way..Secretary ...... 253 925-2085 .. [email protected] U. S. Senate: Washington, DC 20510 Bill Myers, Anacortes..Treasurer ...... 360 588-8772 .. [email protected] Capitol Switchboard (all members): 202 224-3121 Lloyd Flem, Olympia.. State Legislature: State Capitol, Olympia 98504 Executive Director ...... 360 943-8333 .. [email protected] Hotline for leaving messages: 800 562-6000 Office FAX ...... 360 943-0136 nd Address ...... 3704 22 Ave SE, Olympia 98501 Amtrak Reservations/Information: 800 872-7245

Jim Hamre, Puyallup..Newsletter Editor ..... 253 848-2473 .. [email protected] All Aboard Washington: AllAboardWashington.org Warren Yee, Seattle..E-newsletter ...... 206 723-0259 .. [email protected] NARP: www.narprail.org Zack Willhoite, Puyallup..Membership Director ...... [email protected] NARP Hotline: www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/hotline/ Harvey Bowen, Seattle..Fundraising Chair . 206 322-2729 .. [email protected] Amtrak: www.amtrak.com Amtrak Cascades: www.amtrakcascades.com All are evening numbers, except Lloyd's, which is available 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Sound Transit: www.soundtransit.org

off my chair after hearing on Monday No- Because no wants to listen to me, no Mudslide, from page 4 vember 14th that the Bellevue light rail plan doubt. funding to identify, design and con- gets a 7-0 city council OK. I’ll have to agree that a full Interurban struct slope stabilization needs along After years of debate and months of sus- Trail alignment runs into problems in certain tracks between Vancouver, WA and pense, an often-divided Bellevue City areas, some very difficult to mitigate. In my Vancouver B.C. WSDOT and BNSF Council put its differences aside that Mon- discussions with staff, even though the first are collaborating on environmental and day night and unanimously approved an “sketch” is for an all elevated alignment engineering work to survey problem agreement with Sound Transit establishing along SR-99, parts of that Interurban right- areas and determine appropriate repair a light rail route that tunnels through of-way aren’t completely off the table. solutions in order to reduce mudslide downtown. What Sound Transit wants is a grade delays. "We pushed it as far as we can," said separated system, so they can have the All Aboard Washington is pleased DOT Councilman Kevin Wallace, who was part of frequency that the system will demand. is pursuing the Flex and Fix policy we have a council majority that for a year and a half, The Shoreline document, while vague, advocated. We will continue to watch this fought Sound Transit's preferred route raises their concerns about disturbing the issue and provide our input. (See the south of downtown. "We have a choice. We work they’ve already done and their plans April/May 2011 Washington Rail News.) can cooperate with Sound Transit and the for the future. rest of the region to deliver on this project, The SR 99 alignment has more Transit Flem, from page 2 or we can fight. I think the answer is we've Oriented Development potential, but got to cooperate." doesn’t conform to the current Growth Thurston County, hosted by Ralph Munro, "It's not perfect," said Councilwoman Management Act’s plan for Lynnwood being met with gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee Jennifer Robertson, who also has been the major activity center, and for no heavy (currently Democratic representative from critical of the transit agency, "but it makes development in the SR 99 corridor. Washington’s First District). He said good sure that we do have a tunnel, and it gets The problem is, an I-5 alignment is not things about passenger rail. I’ll have ex- us into the project where we're working with conducive to future development. That was tended comments on Inslee and the likely GOP candidate, current Washington Attor- Sound Transit to reduce the cost and do the argument against the “Freeway mitigation." Monorail.” ney General Rob McKenna, who was a The ridership vs. cost estimates favor guest at the Munro farm several weeks ago, North Corridor Link the I-5 alignment also. However, one of the in a future column. WSDOT Secretary You know, this is one of Sound Transit’s Paula Hammond, surely our ally in terms of projects that I can actually stick my nose problems I have is with the horizon year. Sound Transit is using 2030, with light support of passenger rail, is always among into, and use (as opposed to just sticking rail up and running in the early 2020s. the Munro guests. my nose into things).  At the latest Sound Transit open house That means there’s much more potential Hope to see you at AAWA’s annual concerning the High Capacity Transit North in the Shoreline area than the analysis Christmas Holiday meeting at Centennial Corridor Project, we learned the results of reveals. Station on December 10. Our featured the scoping meetings last year. And station spacing on some commuter guest speaker will be John Sibold, Acting One result: People want RAIL. lines back east between communities that Director, WSDOT Rail and Marine Office. In Well Hallelujah Hanna!! have suburban, not city, densities have my judgment, Mr. Sibold has made excel- Now I can say I live in a sub-area that is preserved their small town feel while ac- lent decisions involving in moving forward looking forward to light rail service. commodating high volumes of commuter with our state rail program. In addition, we The initial analysis proposes two align- traffic through their town – not on the high- will have a silent auction of some great stuff ments, I-5 and SR 99. ways – but on the rail line. The station that didn’t sell at the Centralia meeting. Now the Shoreline City Council can get spacing of these lines varies between less Finally, the Centennial Station Volunteer something real meaty for the money they than a mile to up to three miles. Hosts invite all of us to their annual Holiday contribute! Well, depending on what their This is an area where Shoreline can event at Centennial Station on Saturday Light Rail Guiding Principles document that build something that the rest of the region Dec. 17 from 10-noon. It has always been a they adopted a number of weeks ago can be envious of. After all, the Interurban fun and festive time. See you there, too. translates into. did serve the area successfully in the past. Plans are for both to be grade sepa- They need to look positively towards the rated, either in an exclusive ROW, or ele- future. Cusick, from page 3 vated. The preliminary nod seems to be Maybe they can be like Bellevue. I write this from the floor, having fallen going to an I-5 alignment. Why? All Aboard Washington NONPROFIT P. O. Box 70381 ORGANIZATION Seattle, WA 98127 U. S. POSTAGE PAID PUYALLUP WA 98371 Return Service Requested PERMIT NO. 468

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lators. Contact info on p. 5. Kooken, Vancouver; Brian Fairchild, All Aboard News March 17: Joint northwest passenger rail Seattle; and Kathy and Don Campton, December 10: All Aboard Washington advocates membership meeting in Longview. We especially thank all the holiday gathering from noon-4 p.m. at Whitefish, MT at The Lodge at White- members of NARP that have joined us. Centennial Station, 6600 Yelm Hwy, fish Lake. Meeting is timed between the At the All Aboard Washington Nov. 19 Lacey. Cost is $10 per person cash or morning arrival of the eastbound Empire membership meeting the following were check for pizza, subs and beverages. Builder and the departure of the west- reelected to the Board of Directors: Jim Program will feature the new Director of bound Empire Builder. A special NARP Hamre, Puyallup; Stephanie Weber, the WSDOT Rail and Marine Office. hotel room rate will be available by mid- Kirkland; and Zack Willhoite, Puyallup. Topic: Vision for the Washington pas- December. It’s not too early to think Newly elected to the Board are Karen Keller, Lacey and Louis Musso, Cle Elum. senger rail program in the near future. about making reservations on the Also a legislative outlook for 2012 for Builder. Registration information for the Members contributing to this newsletter passenger rail. Use the Cascades or the meeting will be provided in early Febru- include Jim Cusick, Loren Herrigstad, Kathy Coast Starlight to and from the meeting. ary. Hotel: 877-887-4026 or Davis, Lloyd Flem, Warren Yee, Zack January 14: All Aboard Washington www.lodgeatwhitefishlake.com. Willhoite and Harvey Bowen. business meeting from noon-4 p.m. at All Aboard Washington welcomed the AAWA Board Basil’s Kitchen, Embassy Suites Hotel, following new members in October and member Kathy 15920 W. Valley Hwy, Tukwila, adjacent November: Donald Thieman, Washougal; Davis and her to the Amtrak Station. Please RSVP to Christina Dawson, Vashon; Randy White, husband Eric Harvey Bowen, if you can (contact info p. Tacoma; Marjorie Snell, Edgewood; William Korndorffer were 5). Put “Jan 14 RSVP” in Subject or Body Butler, Spokane Valley; Mary Jo Braaten, featured in Sound of your email. Greenacres; Judy Dresser, Vancouver; Transit’s Fall 2011 January 31: All Aboard Washington will Alex Hall, Winthrop; David Harrowe, RIDE newsletter. again be participating in Transportation University Place; Arlene Keenan, Walla The two met riding Advocacy Day in Olympia. This event Walla; Jeanne Large, Kirkland; Melody Central Link, usually starts around 9:00 so use trains Nemerever, Lynnwood; Peter Quast, Selah; became friends David Schroeder, Port Townsend; Floyd and were married 500 and 501 to get to Olympia. Shuttle Smith, Portland, OR; Bob Yarnell, in January 2010. Kathy and Eric went on service from Centennial station will be Issaquah; Rich Mason, Bothell; Allan the Empire Builder to Chicago for their provided. Please contact Lloyd Flem, if Parker, Jr., Seattle; Lola Rogers, Seattle; honeymoon. Sound Transit even gave All you want to attend and have his help in Naomi Spinelle, Clarkston; Ruth Replogle, Aboard Washington a plug. RIDE is setting up appointments with your legis- Port Angeles; Colin McLean, Blaine; David available on ST buses and trains.