Washington Rail News February /march 200 999 www.AllAboardWashington.org Publication of All Aboard Washington A Not ---for-forforfor----profitprofit Consumer Organization “Moving forward...On Rail ."."." established with the relaunch of the Amtrak ridership bucks national trends with Builder in August 2005 and the public strong growth in 2008; Northwest train capacity continues to show its support by riding this train. strained even as new stops and improved stations It’s rather amazing that Coast Star- encourage continuing ridership increases light ridership increased in 2008, con - Nationwide, Amtrak ridership was 760,323, up 12.8% over sidering the route was partially or com - soared 11.1% in fiscal year 2008 2007; revenue was $20,999,003, pletely annulled between Jan. 20 and (ending Sept. 30) over 2007, setting a up 15.8%. Total Northwest Corri- May 6 because of the massive land - new all time record. This increase dor ridership (including Coast slide t hat wiped out the Union Pacific comes at the same time auto and air Starlight passengers riding solely mainline in the Oregon Cascades. The travel have plunged. And even the in the corridor) was 847,563, up Starlight received upgraded amenities substantial drop in gas prices since last 15.4% over 2007. and services this past summer and on- July has had little impact on the pub- • Empire Builder: FY 2008 time performance has improved mar - lic’s reductions in driving, though the ridership was 554,266, up 9.8% kedly from 2007. This improvement led over 2007; revenue was Amtrak to announce that effective Feb. $59,461,168, up 11.8%. 23 northbound passengers on train 14 • Coast Starlight: FY 2008 will again connect to the eastbound ridership was 353,657, up Empire Builder at Portland. This will 2.9% over 2007; revenue eliminate the day long bus ride from was $28,117,404, down Klamath Falls to Pasco that passen - 3.6%. gers have endured for several years. The Cascades again set a Stations new ridership record last year. Vancouver , Washington’s 100- Double digit growth continues year-old Amtrak station reopened on though capacity constraints Jan. 13, 2008 following a six-month The newly remodeled and expanded waiting during holidays and in the sum- $650,000 renovation of the station’s room at the Vancouver, WA Amtrak station mer prevent many passengers interior. The station is owned by the opened January 13. By opening up former un- from being able to travel when used office space, the waiting room has doubled city. The focus was on maintaining the they want to. Amtrak despe- in size, providing a much more pleasant facility building’s historic character while for Vancouver’s growing ridership. rately needs additional equip- moving the tick et counter adjacent to Photo by Jim Hamre ment throughout the country, in- the baggage room for more efficient cluding here in the Northwest. operation, doubling the size of the economic crisis is the main factor now There is hope that Congress will finally keeping motorists off the road. cramped waiting room and upgrading appropriate the funds for new equip- (See Ridership, page 4) Amtrak ridership for 2008 was ment contained in last year’s 28,716,407. Passenger revenue was $13 bill. Amtrak reauthorization. more than $1.73 bill., up 14.2% over Amtrak and the O regon and 2007. Washington state DOTs know Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) on the that additional Talgo trainsets nation’s roads and highways dropped are needed if the Cascades are 5.3% in Nov. 2008 over Nov. 2007. For going to continue to grow and the first 11 months of 2008 VMT was offer people more options to down 3.7% over 2007. driving I -5. Airline passenger boardings The Empire Builder continues dropped 7.0% in Nov. 2008 versus to be Amtrak’s premier national Nov. 2007, continuing a year long network train. It has by far the trend. J. Craig Thorpe’s painting shows the proposed highest ridership of all the long design for Leavenworth’s Icicle Sta tion. Phase For Amtrak routes serving our state, distance routes. Amtrak has one of the station project is planned to start con - here are the impressive numbers: done an excellent job of main - struction in March and start serving Empire • Cascades: FY 2008 ridership taining the high level of service Builder passengers in September. page 2 The governor’s proposed budget ap- speed rail corridor, would again be in line From the desk of pears to fund only option one, except that for a significant piece of this additional $2 the Executive three major ongoing infrastructure bill. in funding. Director projects (Vancouver, WA rail yard, Pt. The ostensible primary purpose of the Defiance bypass and Kelso -Martins Bluff) stimulus legislation is to provide and pre- bybyby would receive continued funding. With serve good jobs and to get the economy Lloyd H. Flem WSDOT now an executive ag ency, the moving . The country would be well governor’s proposed budget is effectively served by investment of federal dollars in Transportation Lobby Day; that of the DOT. In the past , DOT could rail infrastructure and new and rebuilt Rail Funding; North to Vancouver? and did send its own budget proposal, passenger train equipment. Tuesday February 24 is Transporta- independent of the governor , to the state Most economists, business and labor tion Lobby Day at the state capitol in Legislature . leaders, and many governors and Olympia. This is when advocates of “al- The Legislature, not the governor, mayors, as well as pragmatic members ternative” transportation (everything ex- does have the final decision on state of Congress from both parties agree the cept more single occupant vehicle ca- budgets (short of a veto). I have thus best buy for taxpayer stimulus dollars pacity) meet with their legislators. All spent much time meeting with the lea- comes from infrastructure investments, of Aboard Washington is part of a coalition dership and many members of Senate which rail infrastructure and equipment urging increased investment in safer, en- and House Transportation Committees. needs sh ould be a part. It is not too late vironmentally sound and more fuel effi- Option four would be ideal and would to emphasis this to your representative cient movement of goods and people. be similar to investment strategies in and senators sin ce the final version of While AAWA surely cooperates with the most other industrialized countries and the bill continues to be debated . other groups participating in Transporta- many rapidly developing counties (such We must understand that these state- tion Lobby Day we tend to go intended stimulus dollars our own way. Most of the The ostensible primary purpose of the would NOT require a state other participants’ interest is stimulus legislation is to provide and match. However, the Amtrak on intra-metropolitan issues reauthorization bill, which also (especially in the Seattle preserve good jobs and to get the includes funds for states with area); we are most interested economy moving. The country would good rail programs, has a in intercity passenger trains. section that requires a 20% PLEASE inform me ASAP be well served by investment of federal state match. The leadership if you plan to participate so I dollars in rail infrastructure and new and key member s of the state can make appointments for House and Senate Transpor- you with your legislators. In and rebuilt passenger train equipment. tation Committees with whom I’ve met have all agreed o ur addition, I will prepare talking as India and China) outside North Amer- points relevant to current realities con- passenger rail program is important and ica . However, Washington does have “fi- do support funding for the state portion of cerning state passenger rail policies and nancial constraints” and option three is investments. You should of course em- the match so that we can receive the the reason able choice to pursue. federal dollars . While nothing is certain phasis your own viewpoints and expe- Responses from the legislators with riences when meeting with your state until the dollars are delivered, we can be whom I’ve met s ince mid January have pleased about their commitment to date. senators and representatives. My contact been positive. All have agreed on the ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ information is on page 5. need for and desirability of more North- ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ west Corridor passenger trains. Many AAWA members and others The WSDOT Rail Office has prepared Now, let’s look at potential federal from both side of the British Colum- a midrange plan for our Amtrak Cas- funding for passenger rail. At this writing , bia/Washington border continue to won- cades service covering FY 2010 to FY the news is dominated by the multi hun- der when the second Amtrak Cascades 2017 (go to www.wsdot.wa.gov/freight/ dred billion dollar “economic stimu- round-trip that now turns in Bellingham publications for links to the plan and ap- lus/ recovery” package. Assuming the will continue to its logical terminus in pendices). I served as the AAWA repre- stimulus bill passes, it will likely contain Vancouver. Counterproductive bureau- sentative on the Stakeholders Committee far less investment for rail than rail advo- cratic hang -ups are by no means limited and provided significant input prior to the cates believe is justified based on the to the United States. The Canadian Bor- publishing of the final report. safety, fuel efficiency and environmental der Security Agency (CBSA) unilaterally The plan proposes four options for the advantages offers by passenger and decided to charge $1500 per trip for the level of state investment in our success- freight trains. second train from Seattle to Vancouver ful, nationally praised, but-now-often- The $4.9 bill.