Canada Report Winter 2018 NEWSLETTER p. 5 Fall 2018 Vol. 15, Issue 4

Save the Date for RUN’s

Individual Annual Meeting/Public Forum Highlights In Springfield, MA

By Richard Rudolph, Ph.D. additional service along the some of the challenges that rail Chair, Rail Users’ Network northern end of the Knowledge advocates are currently facing A Vote of “No Corridor from Springfield to across North America. Confidence” for Amtrak Please join us at the Rail Users’ Holyoke, Northampton and . Management p. 2 Network’s Annual Meeting / Greenfield, MA, starting in The public forum will start with Public Forum taking place at 2019. The program will also U.S. Congressman Richard Neal Can the SW Chief Stay the Pioneer Valley Planning focus on the ongoing effort to (invited) and Massachusetts State Commission Offices at 60 establish seasonal rail service Senator Eric Lessor, who will be on Track? p. 4 Congress St. in downtown called the Berkshire Flyer from on hand to greet attendees as Springfield, MA. This free, Pittsfield, MA to New York City, well as give welcoming remarks. Southeast Rail News p. 6 exciting event, co-sponsored by and the East-West Passenger John Bernick, Assistant Rail the PVPC, is taking place on Rail study that is currently Administrator for Rail Design, Report from the Saturday, Oct. 13 from noon underway. Construction and Maintenance Southwest p. 7 to 5 pm. It will highlight the of Way at CT DOT, will provide efforts underway which have The program will begin at high an overview of the new CT already led to the expansion noon with a brief RUN business Hartford Line. He is responsible Lackawanna Coalition of passenger rail service meeting to elect board members, for managing engineering and NJT’s “Summer between New Haven and with opening remarks given by and construction activities on from Hell” p. 8 Springfield, MA, as well as the the organization’s chair, Richard Connecticut’s entire rail proposed pilot program to offer Rudolph, who will talk about (Continued on page 3) Canada Report p. 9 MTA, NYC DOT Draw Up Plans for Amtrak Loses Sight of L Train Shutdown Service Mandate p. 11 By Andrew Albert weekends prior to the April, Out-of-system transfers, such as 2019 shutdown when the L line the Livonia Ave/Junius Street View from Cascadia p.12 It’s certainly been in the will not operate, and these are transfer between the #3 & L news frequently, especially as actually greater closures than the lines will not be ready yet, the Vermont Update p.13 community meetings to inform actual shutdown, as these close Hewes St/BroadwayJ/M/Z/G the public about the L-train the line from Broadway Junction transfer will not be ready, nor shutdown, which is happening to 8th Avenue, whereas the will the 21st St G/Hunterspoint Survey of Rail Service in in April of 2019, continue to major shutdown will be between Ave 7 transfer be ready. the Western U.S., take place. Plans continue to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Part 3 p. 14 be drawn up, as this important and 8th Avenue. So what’s the plan to move link between Brooklyn & 300,000 people between Expanding Passenger Manhattan, and especially the Many of the alternatives that Brooklyn & Manhattan while Rail in Michigan p. 17 Superstorm Sandy-damaged will be offered in the large the Canarsie Tube is closed Canarsie Tube under the East 15-month shutdown will not for repairs? It involves multiple River, prepare for preliminary be ready for the weekend modes of travel, including other work, prior to the actual closure. closures, which will largely subway lines, buses, ferries, and There will actually be many begin in October of 2018. (Continued on page 5) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 2 of 20 An Amtrak Trip Report and a Call for “No Confidence” in Amtrak Management Commentary By David Peter Alan of mechanical problems. It appears feasible to do so. All they offered were that much of the time was lost because excuses that managers were competent Despite my having ridden more than of difficulties with a locomotive on the and had looked into every option; 750,000 miles on Amtrak since 1995, westbound trip, which was not properly assertions that I, as an experienced events during my summer itinerary repaired in California. To make matters rider and advocate, strongly dispute. (Reservation No. 00102A) have worse, the dining car lost refrigeration and demonstrated reckless disregard by air conditioning on the westbound trip, Those excuses were clearly false. I attempted Amtrak for the mobility and contractual which was also not repaired in California. to convince anyone at Amtrak who would rights of its customers to an extent unseen This writer and other passengers boarded listen that Amtrak could charter a bus during any other Amtrak travel in which in Denver after midnight, more than five in Chicago that would meet Train #6 in I have engaged previously. If Amtrak is hours behind schedule. Naperville, IL and take us to South Bend, to survive as a mode of transportation of IN, which was the first stop on Train #448. national scope, it is imperative that drastic We continued to lose time steadily on Given the actual arrival time at Naperville, changes in Amtrak policies, and perhaps Monday. I was booked to connect with there would have been enough time for in senior management at Amtrak, take Train #448 to Boston (with a connection a bus to go directly to South Bend on place without delay. to New York), scheduled to leave Chicago highways that bypass Chicago by running at 9:30 pm; and was one of at least 18 south of the city. That would have enabled My itinerary was a USA Rail Pass, with coach passengers booked to make that us to make the connection and enjoy our segments originally scheduled in several connection, along with more riders in holiday at home, as we had planned. regions of the country. They included a the sleeping cars. Amtrak was fully aware segment on Train #7 (the Empire Builder) that it had a number of passengers who Amtrak chartered a bus, but not to allow its from St. Paul, MN to Portland, OR on expected to make the connection at customers to proceed to their destinations. Saturday, June 8, to be followed by trips to Chicago. Amtrak was also aware that Instead, it took the stranded passengers just various destinations in California on Trains Train #6 was running significantly behind to a hotel elsewhere in downtown Chicago, #11 and #14 (the Coast Starlight) and a return schedule, so there was time to arrange where we were to spend 24 hours and waste to the East through Seattle. While in St. for us to make our advertised connection the Fourth of July traveling, rather than being Paul, I received from Amtrak the news that at Chicago. Instead, Amtrak ignored its where we had planned to be. In the process, there was a service disruption in Northern responsibility to get us to our destinations Amtrak purchased hotel accommodations (at California that would prevent Trains #11 and did nothing. This willful inaction ended the Swiss Hotel on East Wacker Drive) that and #14 from operating. Presumably, the up costing Amtrak thousands of dollars sold at retail for at least $159 per room. With other passengers received it, too. and causing dozens of its customers to miss the number of passengers who mis-connected, their Fourth of July holiday. that retail cost would have amounted to several For a few days, affected passengers were thousand dollars, which was compounded sent around the disrupted area by bus, The events of July 2 have demonstrated, by lost revenue from seats or rooms that which proved that Amtrak was capable at least to me, that Amtrak’s attitude were not occupied on Monday night and of providing alternate transportation to toward its customers has become one had to be given to stranded passengers who get their customers to their destinations. of disdain, if not outright contempt. were forced to stay in Chicago until Tuesday As of Tuesday, June 12, Amtrak suddenly Despite several attempts to contact a evening. Under the circumstances, I could and inexplicably withdrew the bus bridge. manager with line authority to help us not wait and had to travel to New York by It was no longer possible for me to get to get to our destinations, Amtrak enforced air on Tuesday morning. It was necessary California as scheduled, so I had to cancel a strict policy that customers are NEVER to spend extra money for the trip, resulting appointments in California and stay in the permitted to talk to any managers with in actual cash damages that Amtrak could Empire Builder’s service area. authority. Neither “regular” call-center clearly have foreseen and that would not have agents, “customer service” personnel been necessary if Amtrak had cared enough An incident on Monday, July 2 was even or “customer relations” agents were to charter a bus that would take us to our worse. I was booked on Train #6, the willing to even find a manager who had connecting train. That had been customary at California Zephyr, which left Emeryville, the authority to ensure that customers Amtrak until recently, but apparently Amtrak CA on Saturday morning, June 30. The going east of Chicago could make does not do that anymore. train was delayed, apparently because their connection, even though it was (Continued on page 10) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 3 of 20 Save the Date for RUN’s Annual Meeting/Public Forum

(Continued from page 1) the Berkshire Flyer which will operate from in time to have a late breakfast or early Pittsfield, MA to Albany / Rennesseler and lunch. It’s a short 10-minute walk from the infrastructure and has direct oversight then to New York City. Jennifer Slesinger, rail station to the Pioneer Valley Planning of the expansion of the regional rail Project Manager, MassDOT, will provide Commission office at 60 Congress Street. service on the Hartford Line between an update on the East-West Passenger Rail Tickets can be purchased at the CT New Haven and Springfield. Jim Redeker, Study - Boston to Pittsfield, MA. which is vending machines in the station—the one- Connecticut’s DOT Commissioner currently underway. Karen Christensen, way fare is $12.75, and Amtrak accepts (invited) will focus his remarks on transit President, The Train Campaign and Ben CT rail Hartford Line tickets onboard oriented development, which is already Heckscher, Co-Founder, Trains in The Valley, all Amtrak’s Regional and Shuttle trains taking place along the line in Wallingford, will also be on hand to talk about passenger except the Vermonter. Customers may Windsor and Windsor Locks. He expects rail advocacy in the Berkshires and in the also purchase CT Rail Hartford Line more economic development will follow Connecticut River Valley. tickets from Metro-North Ticket Vending as people discover the high-speed train Machines (TVMs) as a connecting service service and developers will respond with In keeping with our shared vision and to/from New Haven Line trains. On the housing and other projects near stations. past precedents, time will also be set aside Metro-North TVM, select your New Tim Brennan, Executive Director, so that attendees can share their ideas Haven Line destination station (New Pioneer Valley Planning Commission about how passenger rail services can be Haven) and then add the UniTicket will talk about the new pilot program improved. Andrew Albert, Vice-Chair (Connecting Services) option to select your which will begin in 2019 to expand rail of RUN and Chair of the Permanent Hartford Line destination station. passenger service along the Northern Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA, End of the Knowledge Corridor to will give closing remarks. For those planning to drive. there is serve residents and visitors in Holyoke, parking available outside the PVPC office. Northampton and Greenfield, MA. We look forward to seeing you in Questions can be answered via email sent Springfield, MA—the urban, economic, to [email protected]. After a short refreshment break, Thomas and cultural capital of Massachusetts’ Matuszko, AICP, Executive Director of the Connecticut River Valley. For those coming For your free registration, please go to: Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, by train, there are a couple of options to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rail-users- will describe plans underway for the start-up take a CT Train or Amtrak shuttle that network-annual-meeting-public-forum- of a new seasonal weekend service called will get you to Springfield in the morning tickets-49527626464

The Rail Users’ Newsletter is published quarterly by the Rail Users’ Network, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation. Current board members include: Name Location Affiliation Richard Rudolph, Chair Portland, ME NARP / TrainRiders Northeast, Maine Rail Group Andrew Albert, Vice-Chair New York, NY New York City Transit Riders Council Chuck Bode, Membership Secretary Philadelphia, PA Tri-State Citizens’ Council on Transportation Steve Albro, Treasurer Cleveland, OH Cleveland RTA Citizen Advisory Board David Peter Alan, Esq. South Orange, NJ Lackawanna Coalition Mela Bush-Miles Boston, MA Greater 4 Corners Action Coalition (MBTA) James E. Coston, Esq. Chicago, IL Corridor Capital LLC Bill Engel Canal Fulton, OH Ohio Rail Tourism Association Dana Gabbard Los Angeles, CA Southern California Transit Advocates Steve Hastalis Chicago, IL National Federation for the Blind J.W. Madison Albuquerque, NM Rails Inc. Andy Sharpe Philadelphia, PA SEPTA Phil Streby Peru, IN Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance Ken Westcar Woodstock, ON InterCityRail

Please send comments, letters to editor or articles for possible publications to the Rail Users’ Network at: RUN; P.O. Box 8015, Portland, ME 04104 or email to [email protected] Layout/design editor: Paul Bubny RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 4 of 20 Can the SW Chief Stay on Track?

By Dana Gabbard grant. It criticized the performance outcome will determine the fate of of the Chief, alleged it suffers steadily American’s national interconnected rail One longtime challenge facing Amtrak’s decreasing ridership and, “Critical capital passenger network.” Southwest Chief has been that its middle investments on the line require more portion (between Garden City, KS and than $50 million in the coming years.” In In a strongly worded letter to Anderson Albuquerque, NM) is owned by BNSF but response the Rail Passengers Association dated May 31, 11 Senators along only used by Amtrak. In the early part of (RPA) quickly sent key Congressional the Chief’s mid-section denounced as this decade, the freight railroad indicated Committee Chairs a letter with a point by “Incredibly fiscally irresponsible” the an unwillingness to maintain the trackage point rebuttal (“RPA Letter in Response potential withholding of the $3 million and beyond minimal status. Slower speed to Amtrak’s SW Chief Announcement”). dubbed troubling the lack of transparency because of track degradation would have It noted the insinuation that positive of Amtrak management about its changing greatly lengthened the Chief’s trip time. train control (PTC) installation and position on the Chief. implementation is among the costs the BNSF offered to reroute the Chief between corridor faces is unjustified. ”… with only The State of Colorado Southwest Chief & Newton, KS and Belen, NM via Wichita, a single Amtrak train operating in each Front Range Passenger Rail Commission KS, Woodward, OK, Amarillo, TX, and direction once a day, there are other, less in a June 4, 2018 letter to Amtrak decried a Clovis NM. over tracks it regularly uses expensive solutions that achieve the same lack of understanding and communication which would entail only minimal cost for safety objectives for less cost, including between Amtrak and the Commission. It Amtrak to run on it, abandoning service to Automatic Train Stop (ATS) or Solar pointedly noted contrary to the position cities in rural Kansas, Colorado and New Powered Switch Position Indicators.” statement that a plan existed. “If it needs Mexico. The affected areas created the to be changed and updated, then Amtrak Southwest Chief Rural Rail Partnership in Former Amtrak President needs to join and lead the dialogue with response. our Commission and other stakeholders Joseph Boardman wrote, to put a more acceptable plan in place Through tenacious effort the Partnership “The Southwest Chief issue to ensure the train’s operation can be organized and secured funding towards sustained for the long term.” I have a match of federal Transportation is the battleground whose posted this: https://www.scribd.com/ Investment Generating Economic outcome will determine document/385981898/Amtrak-Letter- Recovery (TIGER) grants. Following two the fate of American’s signed-06-04-18-w-Corrections successful grant applications in March a third grant for $16 million was announced, national interconnected rail Seeking clarity, a group of Senators a seeming victory for supporters of the passenger network.” along the mid-section of the Chief met Chief staying on its current route. with Anderson on June 19th. Much to Another blow to the national network their surprise he rebuffed their concerns On April 19, 2018, Amtrak President/ occurred at this time as Amtrak began and made a high handed Power Point CEO Richard Anderson made a keynote discontinuing station agents in cities whose presentation as if his presumptions are speech at the annual California Passenger use fell below a threshold. For the Chief inviolate and implementation a foregone Rail Summit. It included critical comments this affected Topeka, KS, Garden City, matter. He raised the specter of a possible about the long distance routes and extolled KS, Lamy, NM and Ft. Madison, IA. Also discontinuance of service in the mid- placing more emphasis on corridors. He La Junta, CO had agents on weekends section, replacing it with a bus between did concede “experience travel” had a discontinued. Dodge City or La Junta and Albuquerque. place among the services Amtrak offers, but As Bob Johnston in the Sept. issue of Trains provided no details about what this meant Joseph Boardman, former Amtrak Magazine (“Battle Lines Drawn Over Chief for the current routes. President and CEO, in an open letter Proposal”) notes, the presentation included (“Amtrak: Where is the public input? very selective statistics, no mention of Then in early May, Amtrak’s office Where is the transparency?” Railway Age, projected ridership for the proposed of Government Affairs in a position posted online May 10, 2018) rebuked the truncated service and no transparency statement e-mailed to Senators dictated current Amtrak management for being about the cost allocation of overhead that that additional requirements had to be deliberately unforthcoming and often many advocates claim create a deceptive met before Amtrak would provide the making inaccurate pronouncements. He impression of the financial performance of $3 million it previously pledged toward ended by starkly stating, “The Southwest the long distance routes. the local match for the latest TIGER Chief issue is the battleground whose (Continued on page 6) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 5 of 20 MTA, NYC DOT Draw Up Plans for L Train Shutdown

(Continued from page 1) There will also be a series of Select Bus So, will all of this even begin to make up for Routes initiated during the L train closure, the loss of a very important link between bikes. There will be additional trains taking some pressure off of already- Brooklyn and Manhattan? Time will tell, and on the M line, which serves many overcrowded subway lines. Route 1.1 all of the plans are subject to change, but one neighborhoods parallel to the L line, as will take riders from Grand Street in the thing is quite clear: commuters will need to well as more cars added to the G line, Williamsburg section of Brooklyn to 1st allow extra travel time between their homes a major north-south route in Brooklyn, Ave/15th Street in Manhattan. Route 1.2 and their destinations, whether they are using which connects to the L line at Lorimer will take riders between Grand Street/ two or more subway lines, a bus and subway, Street/Metropolitan Avenue. C trains will Brooklyn and SoHo, in Manhattan. Route two buses, a bus, ferry, and bus, etc. There be lengthened, some of which has already 1.3 will operate between Bedford Avenue, is really nothing that can match the people- occurred, with the addition of R46 cars. in Williamsburg, and SoHo. while Route moving ability of trains, and I would expect Service on the E line between Queens & 1.4 will operate between Bedford Ave, many displaced L train riders will utilize Manhattan will be increased as well. Long- Brooklyn, and 1st Ave/15th Street in other trains, even if it means transfers, rather closed entrances on the J,M,Z line along Manhattan. Dedicated busways will be than a bus, ferry, another bus, and a train. Broadway in Brooklyn will be re-opened, installed by NYC Dept. of Transportation A two-seat ride beats a four- or five-seat ride as this line will likely have a great number along 14th Street in Manhattan, to replace every time. of additional riders. the L train, which serves hundreds of thousands of riders just along 14th Street. New Yorkers are smart, and very Additionally, the out-of-system transfers The dedicated busway will be in effect adaptable, and will likely find a good route between intersecting subway lines I from 5 AM to 10 PM every day. to their destinations. And while 15 months mentioned earlier WILL be in place is no walk in the park, it was originally during the 15-month shutdown of the A new ferry will operate between expected to take two years, but the MTA Canarsie Tube, allowing riders to use Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and Stuyvesant Board balked at that timeline, as did MTA additional lines to reach their destinations Cove, Manhattan (19th St & the East officials, elected officials, and other groups. at no additional expense. For instance, if River). The new 14th Street Select Buses And to make sure it actually WILL take you’re an L train rider whose destination will operate between this new ferry just 15 months, there are heavy liquidated was in Lower Manhattan, you could use landing and the west end of 14th Street, damages to the contractor for each day the G line to Hoyt/Schermerhorn Street as well as serving existing 14th Street bus that exceeds the 15-month timeline. in Downtown Brooklyn, and with an destinations, such as the Lower East Side. across-the-platform transfer to the A or Bike lanes will be installed on 12th & Superstorm Sandy was devastating to New C line, reach your destination in Lower 13th Street to accommodate an expected York and its delicate infrastructure. Many Manhattan with two trains. increase in cycling during the shutdown. under-river tunnels were flooded by Sandy, A dedicated HOV lane will be installed on and while operational, they absolutely needed Likewise, if you were a Brooklyn L the Williamsburg Bridge to accommodate repairs and future-proofing. Most of the train commuter destined for Midtown the new buses that will utilize the bridge to tunnels have already received this treatment, Manhattan, you could take the G line accommodate displaced L train riders. and now only two are left: the Canarsie Tube, north to Court Square in Long Island scheduled for April of 2019, and the Rutgers City, and transfer to either a E, M, or Also, taking advantage of the L train Tube, which carries F line trains between #7 train to Midtown. Interestingly, the closure to increase accessibility is a benefit Brooklyn & Manhattan, which will undergo very-crowded #7 line, which runs between not lost on the mobility-impaired riders repairs some time after the completion of the Flushing & Midtown Manhattan, will on the L line. Three new stations will be Canarsie Tube. Stay tuned. be getting a boost in capacity by the end made accessible with elevators during the of 2018, prior to the April 2019 L train shutdown: Bedford Ave in Brooklyn, 1st Andrew Albert is Vice-Chairman of RUN, the closure, as CBTC is turned on, allowing Ave in Manhattan, and Sixth Avenue, also Chair of the NYC Transit Riders Council, and for an additional three trains per hour. in Manhattan. Riders’ Representative on the MTA Board.

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By Bill Engel Charlotte yard. But construction on a International Airport, will not start until new facility that will be closer to the new more rail is constructed, although a This author lived in Charlotte, NC for Charlotte Gateway Station has been started. terminal at the airport is ready. Extension a year and a half in 1979-1980. Since beyond Orlando to Tampa, possibly in the I rarely see any mention of news from • The last item of North Carolina news median of I-4, is being considered. the Southeastern region of our country is that the new Raleigh Union Station is in the RUN Newsletter, I thought I would now in use. The station is served by the • Also in Florida, extension of Orlando-area contribute some for this issue… four round-trip Piedmont service trains Sunrail commuter train service to Kissimmee between Raleigh and Charlotte, the New has happened! Their website announces that • Charlotte’s CityLynx light rail is York- Charlotte Carolinian, and the New service from Sand Lake Road in southern developing phase 2 of the CityLynx Gold York–Miami Silver Star. Orlando to Poinciana (just toward Tampa line. To provide service, six new Siemens beyond Kissimmee) is scheduled to begin S70 street cars have been ordered. These • Besides North Carolina, another hotbed on July 30. The schedule, available at www. will be equipped with hybrid technology of passenger rail activity is southeast sunrail.com, shows 20 trips a day between to allow off-wire running on a short stretch Florida. The new privately funded Poinciana and DeBary. There is no weekend of the route. The first of the new vehicles passenger rail service called Brightline or holiday service. The service has three is expected to arrive in Charlotte by 2019. began service to their new MiamiCentral common stops with Amtrak at Winter Park, station on the weekend of May 19. Phase Orlando, and Kissimmee. • Locomotives and cars used on the 1 of their operation, West Palm Beach to Piedmont service are at present serviced Miami, is now complete. Phase 2, service Bill Engel is a RUN Board member based in at a facility next to the Norfolk Southern beyond West Palm Beach to Orlando Canal Fulton, OH. Can the SW Chief Stay on Track?

(Continued from page 4) arguments and assertions that have All Aboard Arizona and Southwest already been debunked, plus now claims Passenger Rail Association, Railroad As a repudiation of Anderson, in August $100 million (not the previous $50 Workers United plus electeds at the the Senate passed an amendment to a million) will be necessary in the coming federal, state and local levels. funding bill. Per a press release from years to bring the mid-section to a state The recent doubling down by Anderson the office of co-sponsor Senator Jerry of good repair. is seen as his throwing down the Moran (R-KS), “This amendment gauntlet revealing an unwillingness to would provide resources [$50 Evan Stair of Rail Kansas, one of compromise; the response has been a million] for maintenance and safety the major advocates in the corridor, widespread call to arms by advocates improvements along the Southwest has announced a Kansas - Oklahoma and officials, not only on behalf of Chief route and would compel Amtrak Passenger Rail Summit to be held the Chief but also to hasten an end to to fulfill its promise of matching Friday, October 12, 2018 from 9 Anderson’s tenure before it causes any funding for the successful TIGER IX am to Noon in Topeka at the Great further damage to the national network, discretionary grant ... In addition, this Overland Station (701 N Kansas along with ensuring the next President/ amendment would effectively reverse Ave). Those interested in attending CEO has solid credentials and an Amtrak’s decision to substitute rail can RSVP Stair at EvanStair@ understanding of Amtrak’s needs going service with bus service over large PassengerRailOK.org. A $15 donation forward. Look for RUN to be in the thick segments of the route through FY2019.” is suggested at the door. of this battle. The bill passed the Senate and is now before the House of Representatives for Besides RUN, other advocates fighting My thanks to J.W. Madison, President of consideration. on behalf of the Chief include RPA, Rails, Inc. and RUN Board member, for Colorado Southwest Chief & Front helpful input and corrections to this piece. As this issue went to press an internal Range Passenger Rail Commission, Rail memorandum to employees was Passenger Association of California Dana Gabbard is a RUN Board member and leaked to stakeholders. Digging in his and Nevada, Kansas Rail, Rails, Inc., executive secretary of Southern California Transit heels, Anderson in the memo makes Colorado Rail Passenger Association, Advocates. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 7 of 20 Report from the Southwest

By JW Madison Dieselization? My repeated requests for a meeting with this person, Bernie Toon, and with the Yet another Amtrak disaster Following on the heels of his Bus Bridge Mayor, have gone unanswered. Not even avoided? proposal, Mr. Richardson has come up with an Automatic Reply. Nonetheless, I’m the notion of “dieselizing” the NE Corridor. trying to keep my little ego out of this. These may be the guys who clean up this You’ve heard the great news. The US ______(Pick a polite word). To freely paraphrase Dr. King, the arc of Senate did the Right Thing this month. transportation history is long but it bends What I did get out of that TAB meeting A lot of people deserve credit for this, toward full electrification of our major track is that some of the originally ordered 20 notably Sen. Udall (NM), Sen. Moran segments, and the installation of renewable “ART” buses might be in revenue service (KS), most of the US Senate, and the energy facilities (solar, wind, maybe even this Fall, they’re training the drivers right various activists, advocates, and citizen fusion someday) along the rights of way. This now, and that they’re refusing delivery sympathizers who, like Olive Oyl, finally may not happen till the 22nd Century, but of five of these buses, from the Chinese declared, “Too much is enough!” who the hell knows? Sometimes in history manufacturer, “Build Your Dreams.” even good things happen relatively suddenly. Go to http://www.cabq.gov/transit for the Of course, this bill and amendment still City’s perspective. has the House and——Trump to get past, More Albuquerque transit news; A review and lamentation: but there’s at least something here we can The NM Rail Runner Express relish for the moment. See more on this (NMRX): elsewhere in this issue. Readers are by now likely familiar with the outrageous state of our “ART” (BRT) project, as least from my short Newsletter Some still say nobody rides it. I recently took a For our small part, Rails Inc has been round trip from Albuquerque to Santa Fe for reports. “ART” has descended from merely spreading the word in our usual ways and business errands. The 9:30 a.m. Northbound thanking our KS, CO, and NM Senators a poor choice of Bus Over Rail and a and the 1:10 p.m. Southbound were both at for doing it right. less than ideal route plan, to the level of least 80% full. Despite cheap gas. incompetence and possible corruption. New Mexico includes towns and cities, This just in: DPA and others have been and major-league attractions (like the — Parts of our new (electric) buses have raising concerns about the NMRX and PTC. Philmont Scout Ranch and the NRA’s sideswiped parts of at least one station stop. This, very briefly, is what I’ve learned from an official at Rio Metro, which operates the gun range), that would suffer considerably NMRX for our Council Of Governments: without the Chief. The Harvey House in — During trial runs last Christmas season, Las Vegas (NM) is finally getting fixed the buses had to be jump-started like old trucks with bad batteries on a cold — The NMRX is not exempt from up. And for hundreds of miles through morning. implementing PTC, and, not being a Class I our state, those tracks are the only land “tenant” railroad, has to put it in on its own. alternative to our “freeways,” especially in — A snarl of allegations has surfaced wintertime. — Rio Metro is applying to the FRA about irregularities in the inspection for an exemption (till 2020), for which and approval of the new buses related Related to this, we reaffirm our belief they’re putting together what amounts to to mechanical and electrical issues, and in the proposed re-route of the SW a detailed safety plan and explanation of to the percentage of bus parts made in safety procedures already in place (I’m here Chief’s La Junta CO / Trinidad CO America, as per federal law. At least one to tell you, they are considerable). segment to La Junta / Pueblo CO / inspector has been pressured to sign off on Walsenburg CO / Trinidad, so as to pick procedures that he never got a chance to — Rio Metro is pulling out all the stops to raise up almost 180,000 potential new riders get familiar with firsthand. Allegedly. the $55 million required for PTC. They’ve (including babies), and to close by about scored the majority of this already, and are in 85 miles the passenger rail gap between I recently attended a meeting of the negotiation with XO, an arm of Herzog, to put the system in when the money is in hand. Albuquerque, Denver, and points north Transit Advisory Board (TAB), which is and south. all about buses, buses, and buses. This is This is just a teaser. I’ll expand on this for reasonable enough, since that’s all we have Short Runs and the next Newsletter. Go to http://www.nmrails.org and click on for transit around here. I was hoping to “The SW Chief and its Tracks” and “Rocky learn what the new head of “ABQRide” J.W. Madison is a RUN Board Member and Mountain Flyer” left headers. might be doing to shovel out this muck. president of Rails Inc, based in Albuquerque, NM. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 8 of 20 Lackawanna Coalition Fights for NJ Transit Riders As They Experience the “Summer from Hell”

By David Peter Alan mostly to hire more employees, but nobody transit board makes as much sense as having a has promised any specific improvements. highway board with no motorists on it. The summer of 2017 was supposed to be So riders must wait it out, perhaps for the the “Summer from Hell” for rail riders on rest of this year and much of next year. The Coalition is continuing its efforts to New Jersey Transit (NJT), particularly on the Management’s favorite target has been the campaign for reform, including at the Morris & Essex Line (M&E). Everybody had employees who run the trains. Many of the New Jersey legislature. That campaign to put up with delays at New York’s Penn annulments have resulted from a shortage includes a call for more independence for Station, while on-time performance suffered, of engineers, and management has blamed NJT from direct control by the governor, but almost all M&E trains were diverted them for “playing hooky” and going to the and for genuine rider-representatives on from New York and sent to the historic beach instead of doing their jobs. the board. They would be chosen by a Hoboken Terminal for eight weeks. Riders non-political process, and at least some had the old-style commute that was in effect Management has also blamed the would be transit-dependent. The current until 1996, but NJT offered a reduced fare requirement that NJT install Positive bills before the legislature only call for an and threw in ferry or PATH (Port Authority Train Control (PTC) for a shortage of expanded board, with the new members Trans-Hudson) train connections to New equipment. The agency is behind schedule chosen by legislative leaders. That would York City at no extra cost. The operation ran for installing the system, although it give Democrats, who have controlled smoothly, and riders took it all in stride. Some has been ten years since Congress first both houses for many years, a number of complained bitterly, but many said that it was required it. By the end of the year, the patronage appointments even when the merely the “summer from heck.” beleaguered riders will know how much governor is a Republican. There would remains to be completed, because NJT still be no non-political members or a This past summer was really the “summer must file a completion plan and a request requirement that any board members from hell,” far worse than last year, and for an extension of time from the Federal depend on transit, so the Lackawanna there is no end in sight to the woes suffered Railroad Administration, and most of the Coalition opposes the current bills. by commuters and occasional riders alike. work must be completed this year. Trains have been annulled in epidemic So the riders continue to suffer, and there proportions, and riders normally do not Many of NJT’s problems stem from its structure is no end in sight. At this writing, NJT know until the last minute whether or not and governance, which are directly related has announced that the trains between their train will run. Commuters run the risk to New Jersey politics. While NJT’s enabling Philadelphia and Atlantic City will be of having to wait for the next train, which is legislation created it as a quasi-independent suspended, beginning after Labor Day. crowded with a double load of passengers, organization, every governor who held the Rail riders will be forced to take a local and they often arrive at their offices late and office since 1982 has meddled directly in its bus and a PATCO (Port Authority Transit must take the consequences. management and controlled every appointment Corp.) subway-style train into Philadelphia; to its Board. Murphy is no exception. Before he the current express bus between the two Riders on “off-peak” trains have it even took office, his chief of staff for the transition endpoints will require a higher fare. Mid-day worse. When a train is annulled outside peak- ordered a purge of managers and secretaries, and evening trains on the Raritan Valley commuting hours, their wait is extended by most of whom lost their jobs. The agency’s Line that go to New York will be cut back to 60 minutes or more. On weekends, they are performance is worse now than when the victims Newark, as they were until 2014. NJT has often subjected to gaps of two, three, or even were still working there. The Board does not announced that these service eliminations four hours. As this writer said at a statement exercise independent governance, but approves are temporary but has not announced a date to the NJT Board on August 8: “This everything unanimously, with a span of more when the trains will be restored, and some interferes with our lives. This is intolerable.” than twelve years (2003-2015) without a single advocates fear that they will never come On Friday, August 10, a record 30 trains were dissenting vote. The Board rejected management back. The suspensions will last for four or five annulled, although a severe thunderstorm proposals only twice in the agency’s 38-year months, at least. added to that total. The following Sunday history; in 1995 and again in 1996. evening, though, NJT gave advance notice Since both of those services were initiated about some trains that would be annulled There are no regular transit riders on the because advocates fought for them, the following morning. Maybe that stemmed Board. Coalition member Joseph M. Clift asked their “suspension” may be permanent. from the public outcry five days earlier. the Board members at their August meeting NJT may also have violated statute how many of them had arrived on transit. that requires a round of hearings before For its part, management blames the Nobody raised their hands. This writer asked a service can be eliminated, since the policies in effect when Chris Christie was the same question 10 years ago, with the same provision in question does not distinguish governor. Current Gov. Phil Murphy, who result. This writer has remarked repeatedly that between permanent and temporary took office at the beginning of this year, having no regular transit riders, and especially elimination of a service. has promised more money for the agency, no persons who depend on transit, on a (Continued on page 9) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 9 of 20 Canada Report Fall 2018 By Ken Westcar Ontario high-speed rail financial and collateral cost, disruption, consumer demand and the small problem of Hudson’s Bay Railway The future of the high-speed rail (HSR) lack of capacity at Toronto’s Union Station. project between Toronto, London, and Once the provincial Transportation Minister A glimmer of hope that a First Nations eventually Windsor, appears to have lost has made the decision on the future of the group with Canadian private capital some momentum under the recently current HSR environmental assessment, support would take over OmniTRAX’s elected Progressive Conservative provincial several advocacy groups and municipalities in responsibilities for the line was dashed earlier government. The new transport minister southwestern Ontario will be pushing hard for this year when a deal could not be reached. is unlikely to look at the file until late a very different passenger rail operating model. Meanwhile the federal government remains September and is then expected to announce This includes both improved VIA Rail long- at an impasse with OmniTRAX over who whether the single focus environmental distance services between Toronto and Windsor will foot the bill for the repairs to the line. assessment will proceed, be expanded to include other options or cancelled outright. and a nippy regional service from Sarnia through London to Kitchener that will offer Residents of the Arctic port town of cross-platform, synchronised connections with Churchill who have historically relied on Advocacy group InterCityRail recently Metrolinx GO train, all-day/two-way express the line to provide employment, reasonable published the results of a Freedom of services between Kitchener and Toronto, consumable goods pricing and a steady Information request on their website and it’s expected in 2023-2025. stream of tourists, courtesy of VIA Rail, available under the “Freedom of Information” have all but given up hope. Unless there’s a tab at www.intercityrail.org. The provincial prompt resolution, the town will continue Ministry of Transportation was very cooperative “Northlander” reinstatement? to lose population and its iconic polar bear on providing the requested documentation and population will have fewer paying voyeurs. it was only redacted on matters of privacy. The Progressive Conservative election platform included reinstatement of this Had this been a road, rather than a rail line, To say that the rationale behind the Toronto to Cochrane passenger rail it would have been lavishly repaired by now HSR is below investment-grade is a gross service, cancelled under the previous with politicians crowding themselves out understatement. It points very much to the Liberal government in 2012. This will be seeking photo-ops and self-aggrandisement. fact that the previous Liberal provincial challenging as it will require a completely The fact that the rail line substitutes for government’s promotion of the project new rolling-stock fleet and difficult a road is lost on them as is the social and was based on political optics rather than negotiations with Canadian National on economic cost of an abandoned, strategic sound economic and social benefits. In fact, track access south of North Bay. community on Arctic tidewater. the documents received by InterCityRail from ministry sources indicated little Ontario Northland, a provincial crown It’s difficult to see who will win in a court understanding of HSR within the corporation, increased its highway bus fleet after battle between the Canadian federal bureaucracy and incomplete or misleading losing the “Northlander” to political myopia. government and OmniTRAX. Of course, information provided by external counsel. But highway traffic congestion in the Toronto the best outcome would be a compromise, area, vagaries of Canadian winters and but it would need a very brave judge to Of course, it has not stopped municipal looming driver shortages have shown that even impose one. Canada needs to put the welfare politicians in Kitchener, London and fairly luxurious buses are not the best solution of people and its Arctic resource interests Windsor touting HSR as an economic and for price-sensitive, gruelling, long-distance travel. above a relatively petty squabble like this. social game-changer. This is based on an But, their priorities seem elsewhere. underappreciation of the hard facts on Ken Westcar is co-coordinator of InterCityRail. Lackawanna Coalition Fights for NJ Transit Riders

(Continued from page 8) bills currently before the legislature contain have just begun and will last for 2½ years. only minor changes that would make NJT says that riders on 18 bus lines will At a legislative hearing on August 16, this essentially no difference for the riders. experience severe traffic delays for that period. writer called for structural reform at NJT, blaming politics for an agency that does The service on NJT has never been worse, So, whether they ride a bus to New York or not respond well to the needs of its riders. and especially, it has never been less-reliable. a train anywhere in New Jersey, the Garden Democrats in the legislature complained Commuters are delayed on the way to and State’s transit riders can’t win. The Lackawanna bitterly when Republican Chris Christie was from their offices. “Off-peak” riders must Coalition and other advocates are doing the governor. Now that Democrat Phil Murphy deal with long gaps between trains. To make best they can, but nothing is easy in the rough- has succeeded him, it is the Republicans matters worse, major projects to repair and-tumble world of New Jersey politics. who are complaining about the same issues. highways leading to the Lincoln Tunnel, This writer and others called for varying which many buses use to get to the Port David Peter Alan is Chair of the Lackawanna degrees of reform at the hearing, but the Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, Coalition, based in Millburn, NJ. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 10 of 20 An Amtrak Trip Report and a Call for “No Confidence” in Amtrak Management (Continued from page 2) have forced Amtrak into a different location. entire long-distance network, one train at a This was enough of an excuse for Amtrak time. That would leave the state-supported It appears that Amtrak believes that to eliminate the agent, claiming diminished corridors and trains, as well as the Northeast its customers lack the knowledge of ridership. As a result, there is now only a Corridor (NEC) and its branches as isolated transportation operations or the mental caretaker there, and that person goes off duty short passenger railroads. It would then be capacity to deserve any opportunity to present at 4:00 in the morning. The area near the easy for surviving Amtrak management suggestions to managers that would improve station is considered dangerous, and there is to give the state-supported trains directly conditions for customers and save money for no way to get anywhere else in town safely, to the states, to run or discontinue as they Amtrak at the same time. The opposite is without paying a taxi fare. In short, Amtrak see fit. J.P. Morgan Bank is promoting a true–even if the suggestions were worthless, abandons its customers in a dangerous plan for a privately-financed infrastructure Amtrak’s willingness to listen would at the very neighborhood in the middle of the night, management organization (IMO), which least be good customer relations. In contrast, with no safe place to wait until buses start would take over the NEC and certain other it appears that Amtrak management is either running two or three hours later. This writer Amtrak assets. If that deal goes through, incompetent, contemptuous of its revenue survived the experience and took several there would be no more role for Amtrak, and customers, or reckless in its disregard for buses to get to Roanoke, VA, to ride the it could die before reaching its 50th birthday. carrying out its contract with its customers mileage between Roanoke and Lynchburg to transport them to their destinations on for the first time in 48 years. Therefore, this writer is calling for advocates the advertised schedule (or at least on the around the nation to vote “no confidence” in advertised day). Although circumstances Overall, the current Amtrak situation is Amtrak management as personified by Richard beyond Amtrak’s control sometimes prevent absolutely intolerable. Amtrak must change Anderson and Stephen Gardner. They could Amtrak from delivering its services, the its policies without delay to ensure a best effort then send a signal to Washington that current difficulties that I suffered on this summer’s to get passengers to their destinations, and Amtrak policies and plans are absolutely itinerary were all within Amtrak’s control, passengers must be allowed to make suggestions unacceptable. Unfortunately, we cannot expect and Amtrak could have prevented them by to managers with line authority. If incumbent Congress and the Trump administration to the simple expedient of chartering a bus in management endorses these anti-customer listen, unless there is a groundswell of reaction Chicago or a few buses in northern California policies now in effect, they should be required from the riding public, and the public at large, or southern Oregon. In the case of Chicago, to change those policies, or be terminated from stating clearly and without compromise that we Amtrak did charter a bus, but refused to use their jobs. Amtrak’s very survival is at stake, all want our trains. it in a manner that would have resulted in the and there is no room for managers or policies most benefit for its customers. that fail to deliver the transportation that its It is unfortunate that, more than 47 years customers have purchased. after Amtrak was founded, our passenger Some of Amtrak’s new stated policies also train network remains tiny, and Amtrak has produce unfavorable results for its customers. It has become clear to this writer and other done little to expand it; often the contrary. Later in the month, on Wednesday, July 18, advocates that it is impossible for Amtrak This country should have a robust passenger this writer took Train #63 from New York’s to improve under its current top leadership. train network, as RUN and other advocacy Grand Central Terminal (which all Empire Amtrak had gotten steadily worse under groups have been promoting for decades. Service trains used until 1991) to Rochester, Joseph Boardman’s leadership, but it has hit Still, that cannot happen unless we pull with plans to stop over and continue to unprecedented lows since Richard Anderson together to save the few trains we have. Chicago on Train #449 from Boston. That took charge. Executive Vice-President Once they are gone, they almost assuredly train was due to leave Rochester at 11:09 Stephen Gardner has not helped efforts will never come back. Only if we save them pm, but broke down near Springfield, to keep the network intact or to make life can we someday expand our passenger rail Massachusetts. After a less-than-comfortable better for Amtrak’s customers, either. network. We need to save our trains now, night in the Rochester station without whether Amtrak management likes it or not. Amtrak providing any food or drink, the train Now, Anderson plans to split the finally left at 4:57 the next morning. It did not Southwest Chief and replace the middle David Peter Alan has ridden the entire Amtrak arrive in Chicago until after 5:00 on Tuesday of it with a bus route. The Senate has network and rides and average of 25,000 to afternoon, so anyone booked on a western almost unanimously passed a resolution 30,000 miles per year on Amtrak. He is a train missed their connection. that expressed its objection to the plan, member of the RUN Board of Directors and but Amtrak is standing firm in its desire to Chair of the Lackawanna Coalition, a New There was just enough time for this writer to implement it. Essentially all advocates know Jersey advocacy organization. He lives and board Train #50 for Cincinnati, where there that such a change would kill the route within practices law in South Orange, NJ. The opinions is no longer a station agent. The temporary a short time, and some see this as the test expressed are those of the author, and do not downturn in ridership at that station, due to case that would allow Anderson, Gardner necessarily represent those of RUN or of any other renovations to the Union Terminal building, and other Amtrak brass to eliminate the organization. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 11 of 20 Amtrak Loses Sight of Service Mandate, Remains Largely Invisible to Public

By Phil Streby title, namely a service industry. It is also 800 cars would be needed system-wide. very nearly invisible, which leads me to my For comparison, the Japanese operate This started as a response to the issues next point. over 10,000 cars in a country about the of the day. Those issues were: cuts to size of California. manned stations, cuts to on-board service Amtrak has two major deficiencies: staff, threatened route abandonment, and 1) Severe lack of equipment which limits Amtrak is very nearly invisible outside of the overlying issue of what appears to be the ability to add space to existing trains, the Northeast Corridor. Trains operating an openly hostile attitude toward long and, consequently, the ability to add trains to and from Chicago, the current Midwest distance service. These are my thoughts, to existing routes let alone add new routes; hub, pass in the early morning or late and I provide no factual basis for backup. and evening as they travel to or from the 2) LACK OF ADVERTISING! Too many Eastern cities, and since there are only one Amtrak seemingly fails to understand people don’t even know of the existence of per day per route, they are barely noticed that customer service is most of what passenger rail, and so don’t look to it as a if at all. When coupled with the severe loss they have to offer. Yes, Amtrak is in the travel option. of railway routes in the East and Midwest transportation business, and, contrary which further limit the public’s exposure to public opinion, they do transport a Many in our community of rail passenger to trains of any type, Amtrak isn’t even a lot of people.The transportation side is advocates dream of the day when all trains thought for most. time consuming and somewhat expensive are daily trains; more, when every route when compared to the free highways has multiple frequencies each day; and The following ideas supplemented with and fast airlines. Service is what draws even more, when the national system is your own could improve this situation, many travelers to the rails. Cutting those about four times its current size with trains and make passenger rail a consideration employees providing that service also traveling at higher speeds truly connecting for travel. I believe our organizations, cuts into the draw of passenger rail. communities, states, regions, and the entire local, state, and national, should be (As an aside, keep in mind that every country. It once was this way, and on other clamoring for: Amtrak employee cut is one less person continents it still is or is coming back. We paying into the Railroad Retirement need to shift our focus on which mode or 1) funding equal to or exceeding what we system. Salaries, taxes, medical benefits, modes of public transportation can most got this year. etc constitutes a savings for Amtrak, effectively supplement or complement the 2) demanding stepped-up manufacture but also means one or more fewer private auto or air travel. of new long-distance equipment a la employed people living and spending in a Heritage with coach space separated from community.) A passenger train may not be the best outside doors and spotlights overhead. solution, but needs to be given a fair trial 3) slumber-coach style sleepers to augment Some of those services might be deemed before being ruled out. The Rail Passenger redesigned (can you say 10-6) sleepers for essential, especially if one is infirm, Association’s suggested route map (found true comfort. elderly or an underage minor traveling on the RPA website) is a good start. 4) proper staffing with, perhaps, on- alone, needing assistance with baggage board crew changes en-route to prevent or tickets or information or direction. A For now, we need to understand that employee burnout. ticket agent is more than a ticket salesman Amtrak hasn’t added to or replaced their 5) State DOT (perhaps federally funded) and may change hats often with the same equipment in years, so making routes emplaced signage along major highways to customer. daily or adding new routes is not a viable mark locations of stations (Large brown or option for the next few years. Even blue signs similar to national parks signs. On board the train, the same is true. with this year’s appropriation, the time After all, this is a federal rail passenger Porters, waiters, chefs, and stewards (why needed to produce new equipment is the program!) is only the chef ’s title unchanged?) each limiting factor. If Amtrak were to replace 6) We have the materials to point out provide specific services as well as services everything they had for the current the true cost of passenger rail when not specific to their crafts, as do conductors, long-distance (LD) operation, I estimate compared to other programs. We should trainmen, and baggage men (more titles it would take 312 cars based on a six-car also be pointing out the true monetary replaced with more generic names lending train or 520 cars for 10-car trains. Note benefits associated with the SERVICE them more easily eliminated.). Amtrak, in I did not specify the type of cars on each provided by the train other than ticket its efforts to streamline titles and services, train. Factoring in regional or short-haul revenue. has nearly streamlined itself out of its own trains, I conservatively estimate nearly (Continued on page 16) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 12 of 20 View from Cascadia; Two Good Books By Lloyd H. Flem of All Aboard Washington were among railroads while subsidizing highway the three fatalities, the passenger rail and, later, air modes. These government While rail advocates on the Northwest community in Cascadia is moving policies sought to control, even punish Corridor are generally concerned about forward. Please send some best wishes our railroads and robber baron owners of some of the decisions made by Amtrak way in our collective recovery. what were the US’ first “big businesses”. CEO Richard Anderson (the cancelling of the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for **************************************** From the vantage point of the 21st Tots trains seems almost designed to Century, one can understand the alienate allies and the general public), the While neither of the books here sentiment against some railroads impacts of the Dec. 18, 2017 derailment reviewed are new, the information and through much of the 20th Century. But SW of Tacoma continue to have a insights given are still quite valid when the impacts of the taxes, regulations, greater impact on those who provide and considering the government policies that “punishments” of Big Rail, which have operate our Amtrak Cascades trains have brought us to a situation where extended in time far beyond the robber than the sometimes inexplicable policies interecity passenger rail remains a poor baron era, are in 1994 and today truly of the Anderson Amtrak administration. stepchild compared to road and air, detrimental to the people, economy, and uniquely so in the US (and Canada) in physical environment of our country. In Securing a replacement train for that contrast to the rest of the industrialized essence the US (and Canada as well) are destroyed on Dec. 18, completing the world. still paying for the sins of the rail bosses coordination of PTC among the several a century ago and should not be, as the entities involved, ironing out legal and Full disclosure: Since I was interviewed by dominance of private motor vehicles, administrative details all must occur before both authors, I’ll concede to a bit of bias car and trucks is but one negative result. the two new Seattle-Portland round trips in their behalf. The author pleads for policies which (that were to have started on December 18) would allow passenger rail assume a more on the new, efficient but less scenic inland The first is Getting There: The Epic Struggle rightful place in the intercity movement route between Olympia and Tacoma can Between Road and Rail in the American Century. of people. be reinstated. WSDOT’s Rail Division Though published in 1994, this very hesitates to announce a specific start date. readable history of transportation policy Getting There is authored by Stephen B May not be until 2019. in most of the 20th century is as vital now Goddard. Publisher is Basic Books, a as 24 years ago. We are still adversely division of Harper-Collins, 10 E. 53rd While All Aboard Washington continues impacted by the biases in behalf of private St., New York 10022-5299. to advocate for the proven incremental motor vehicles and the publicly-funded approach to more and faster intercity rail infrastructure that supports them. Plus Waiting on a Train: The Embattled Future of service, headlines are made by the dream the negative policies that damaged freight Passenger Rail Service. The author spent the of ultra-high-speed rail put forth by WA railroads and nearly eliminated passenger better part of 2006 riding Amtrak trains Governor Jay Inslee, Microsoft’s Bill train service by the 1970s. all over the USA. This book also has an Gates and friends, and political forces in easy and fascinating story line consisting British Columbia, which are adding some Reviews of Getting There are very positive. of very perceptive and salient comments dollars to a study of 250 MPH+ trains It reads like a good novel while sources on the trains taken. On one level Waiting between Seattle and Vancouver BC. are many with a comprehensive index on a Train is an enjoyable travelogue, which yields academic legitimacy. where public policies are implied . But After drops in ridership in the two following all those Amtrak train trips, the months following December 18, numbers Intercity passenger trains, almost author makes some recommendations of passengers picked up and several entirely owned and operated by private that are sometimes explicit. The months exceeded the same months in companies, were virtually the only mode most explicit was the epilogue’s final 2017. Passenger satisfaction on Amtrak of intercity transportation of commercial paragraph: Cascades trains remains high, the value in 1900.(OK, some inland exception being concerns with still shaky waterways.)The movement of freight as “America is a Third-World county when on-time performances, particularly well as passengers became the lifeblood it comes to passenger railroads. I know on trains which originate in British of the North American economy. Often this: If the country wants a robust well- Columbia or south of Portland. the railroad companies then took such functioning (passenger) train system, it advantage of their customers that a will have to pay for it. There is no way While the trauma of Dec. 18, where general public sought policies at all around that.” two close friends who were also officers levels of government to tax and regulate (Continued on page 13) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 13 of 20

Update on Vermont Rail

appropriated $50 million in their FY 2018 minibus spending bill specifically to help with installing safety upgrades in rural areas, some of which could be available to fund projects in Vermont. But absent the SMS study, we don’t know what Amtrak wants us to do. Federal RFPs for this program have not yet been announced.

On Aug. 1, the city of Montpelier applied for a $250,000 grant to study launching a light rail service in central Vermont. The grant application is a partnership with the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission By Larry Lewack Work is continuing this summer on VTrans to “identify opportunities and obstacles” Middlebury Rail Tunnel project. Once for a passenger rail corridor on the existing Vermont Rail Systems/Green Mountain completed in 2020, this tunnel will allow Washington County Rail (WACR) line, a Railways has done quite well with the first VTRS to run double-stack freight along the short freight line linking Barre City, Berlin season of its weekend dinner excursion trains Western Corridor (north/south line that and Montpelier in central Vermont. Note: running thru the beginning of September. parallels US Hwy 7), and permit the extension All Earth Rail purchased a set of vintage The trains offer elegant meals served round- of Amtrak’s Ethan Allen Express north to DMU cars from the Dallas-Forth Worth, TX trip aboard a Burlington to Middlebury train. Burlington. (Train stations also need to be light rail system in 2017, and is exploring the $85-110 per person, depending on the desire built or upgraded in Middlebury & Vergennes idea of using this equipment in a regional/ for a private lounge car or not--very good as well for this extension.) For a close-up look commuter rail service in northern Vermont. food all cooked on board to order and served at the rail tunnel project, see: http://vtrans. See: www.allearthrail.com/about to tables. For foliage season, this service vermont.gov/projects/middlebury moves to Chester in southern Vermont and The Vermont Rail Action Network is launching will operate to “Summit”, the high point on Progress also continues on the planned its first-ever membership campaign this summer. the old Rutland RR Rutland-Bellows Falls extension of the Vermonter north to We invite rail enthusiasts & advocates from (Boston) route. For more info, see: https:// Montreal. The Canadian Parliament recently around the US to show their support for our rail trainridesvt.com/ approved allowing US Customs & Border advocacy and promotion efforts by joining us Patrol to set up a pre-clearance facility in (or making a contribution) at our website, www. We are awaiting response to VTrans’ CRISSI Montreal’s Central Station, eliminating the railvermont.org. Members get discounted tickets FRA grant application for rock-slide mitigation need for lengthy stops at the US/Canada for VRAN’s gala Annual Dinner (to be held Nov. work, which would remove some permanent border to clear every passenger individually. 8 in Montpelier), an ‘I’d rather be on the Train’ NECR slow orders in effect on the Vermonter Both Amtrak trains are ‘on track’ to begin bumper sticker, and qualify for travel discounts, route since the October 2015 derailment near serving these extended runs in 2021. if you add RPA membership at a members-only Roxbury. This is a ledge stabilization project, We are also waiting on Amtrak’s Safety discount. Please join us & help spread the word! with installation of rockslide restraints and Management Study (SMS) report on what remote sensing devices. NECR would provide they will recommend to satisfy their non- the non-federal match at about half the total PTC concerns in dark (unsignaled) territory Larry Lewack is Executive Director, Vermont Rail project cost. north of White River Jct., VT. Congress Action Network. View from Cascadia; Two Good Books

(Continued from page 12) Of great interest to me is that I know hardships and negative experiences quite a number of those interviewed valuable.. Ironically, the book celebrates Amtrak’s in preparation to the writing of this National Network (NN - long distance) as book. And, exhibiting a bit of Pacific Waiting on a Train is written by James well as regional and corridor trains. Ironic, Northwest regional pride. I was pleased McCommons. Publisher is Chelsea just following the US Senate’s granting more that the Amtrak Cascades were seen as Green publishing, White River Junction, money for Amtrak than ever before, Amtrak among the best in the Amtrak system. VT. 802-295-6300. {Chelseagreen. top management is instituting policies and The author was a relatively good sport com}. making decisions bound to alienate long-time about the equipment and operational allies and, it appears, beginning the process shortcomings that plagued some of Lloyd H. Flem is Executive Director, All Abaord of ending support for the NN trains. his trips. He even made some relative Washington. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 14 of 20 A Survey of Long-Distance and State-supported Passenger Train Service in the Western U.S. Part Three: Existing (Continued) Another improvement for the benefit of Amtrak passengers came in 2013 with the opening of a Metropolitan Lounge for sleeping car passengers, Pacific Surfliner business class passengers with same-day tickets and Amtrak Guest Rewards members (Select Plus and Select Executive levels).

I spoke with Ken Pratt, Deputy Executive Officer for Real Estate at Metro who handles property management for Union Station and he enthusiastically spoke of further plans that may even involve the historic ticketing hall. And outlined the investment made by Metro since purchasing the station to bring the complex up to a state of good repair, installing modern air conditioning, etc. Metro is undertaking other initiatives to upgrade Union Station. Chief among these is Link Union Station (Link US), designed to meet long-term regional rail By Dana Gabbard It is the fifth busiest Amtrak Station in the needs by allowing the station to function United States and the busiest on the West more efficiently and providing a better To keep this survey at a manageable Coast with 1,716,392 boardings/alightings overall passenger experience. length, it is being divided into multiple (per Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2017, State parts. This part deals with existing of California posted on the Amtrak website). Link US is made up of several key state-supported passenger train services In 2011, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan components, including: in Southern California and profiles Los Transportation Authority (Metro) purchased Angeles Union Station. Part four in the Union Station. Just before Metro purchased • New run-through tracks over the US-101 Winter issue will cover long-distance it, a Starbucks, Subway Sandwich and freeway to provide one-seat rides to major routes there, with subsequent installments convenience store had opened in the station, destinations in Southern California and to cover proposals, efforts to revive expanding meal and snack options. improve train capacity by 63% discontinued Amtrak routes and projects • Reconfiguration of the “throat” (station under construction in the West. Additional options oriented toward people entry tracks) and “rail yard” (station on the go more recently setting up shop arrival and boarding area) Please see the introduction to part one in include Café Crepe, Oto Oto Express, • A new passenger concourse with retail, the Spring issue regarding the purpose and Barista Society, Ben & Jerry’s, Green Bowl food services, passenger waiting areas, and certain other underlying aspects. 2 Go, Trimana mini market and T & Y other amenities bakery. And there is great anticipation • Accommodation of future transportation Los Angeles Union Station at the impending debut (after extensive options, including the West Santa Ana restoration) of a gastropub in the space Branch Light Rail Transit Corridor project Union Station opened in 1939. It is served occupied by the historic long shuttered and California High-Speed Rail (HSR) by four Amtrak lines (Coast Starlight, Pacific Fred Harvey Restaurant, from local Surfliner, Southwest Chief and Sunset Limited) and is trendy restaurateurs Cedd Moses and Eric The project is undergoing environmental a multimodal hub served by heavy rail (Red/ Needleman. Also Metro has authorized clearance, with a Record of Decision Purple line), light rail (Gold line), commuter nearly $8 million for the renovation of (ROD)/Environmental Impact Report rail (Metrolink), municipal buses, Bolt Bus, existing public restroom facilities and for (EIR) Certification anticipated by the fourth Mega Bus and FlyAway bus service to LAX. building brand new restrooms. (Continued on page 15) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 15 of 20

A Survey of Long-Distance and State-supported Passenger Train Service in the Western U.S. Part Three: Existing (Continued) (Continued from page 14) Currently, 12 round-trips operate daily To accommodate the increased demand, between Los Angeles and San Diego, the California State Transportation Agency quarter of 2018. Project partners five continue to Santa Barbara and two requested Capitol Corridor Joint Powers include the Federal Railroad further on to San Luis Obispo. It is the Authority (CCJPA) which manages The Capitol Administration (FRA), the California second highest ridership Amtrak service Corridor, temporarily transfer some equipment High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), with 2,990,000 riders (all ridership figures from the Northern California Fleet. This the Southern California Regional Rail are for FY 2017, taken from the Monthly consisted of eight railcars and three locomotives, Authority (SCRRA, also known as Performance Report for Sept. 2017 which added about 2,000 seats to the five daily Metrolink), Amtrak, Los Angeles – San (Preliminary and Unaudited) dated Dec. round-trips serving Santa Barbara. In response Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) 27, 2017 posted on the Amtrak website). to the resulting crowding of Capitol Corridor Rail Corridor Agency, Caltrans, and the The full route (San Diego to San Luis service, David B. Kutrosky, CCJPA Managing City of Los Angeles. Obispo) is 351 miles long. It serves 29 Director in a statement to passengers apologized stations. Besides Los Angeles, San Diego, for the inconvenience, then noted “… the The source of funding for the final design Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, major CCJPA and our service partners in Northern and construction phase has not been stops include Solana Beach (Del Mar California did not hesitate to authorize this determined or secured. The project website is racetrack), San Juan Capistrano, Irvine and humanitarian assistance. We are confident that www.metro.net/projects/link-us/ Anaheim. The most recent enhancement each and every Capitol Corridor passenger of service was adding the 12th daily round- would agree with our decision. It is in times like Website for the facility is www.unionstationla. trip between Los Angeles and San Diego in this when communities must come together com/ Nov. 2016, the first service increase in more and help each other out. I am proud that the than a decade. CCJPA is able to put our mission into action and Other West Coast stations that have help bridge the transportation need in Southern had significant upgrades in the new In 2015, the Los Angeles – San Diego – California during this challenging time.” millennium include Seattle King Station San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor (restored to its original splendor) and Agency assumed management of the Pacific Other measures taken included the Coast Sacramento (now served by light rail and Surfliner. It contracts with the Orange Starlight making stops at all Surfliner stations recently renovated). County Transportation Authority to provide between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and day-to-day management of the service. an additional round-trip between those points Pacific Surfliner added the weekend of Jan. 20-21 just before On Jan.8 and 9, 2018, torrential rains caused US 101 re-opened. During the era of private passenger rail mudslides blocking US-101 south of Santa service, the Santa Fe railroad operated Barbara and the tracks used by Amtrak As of Oct. 9, 2017, the Surfliner discontinued its San Diegan between Los Angeles services (the Surfliner and Coast Starlight). While serving the Carlsbad Poinsettia and Encinitas and San Diego. When Amtrak began the tracks were able to be cleared by Jan. 11, stations of the Coaster commuter service in operations on May 1, 1971, it continued the freeway was closed until Jan. 21. In the Northern San Diego county. On the same the service, initially via two daily round- interim, Amtrak services had heavy ridership day, the number of Surfliners stopping at Old trips with additional service between with crowded conditions and in some cases Towne San Diego was increased. L.A. and San Diego offered by the people left on platforms unable to board. As train now known as the Coast Starlight. I explained in my article “Rail Commuting Re-timing Surfliner service to accommodate In April 1972, the Coast Starlight was Between Ventura County and Santa Barbara commuting between Ventura County and truncated at Los Angeles and a third San an Impending Reality Thanks to Stalwart Santa Barbara that was the subject of Diegan round-trip begun. Over the years, Activists and Officials” in the Spring 2016 the aforementioned 2016 article began in the number of round-trips increased. In issue, US-101 is the only road directly linking April, with trains arriving in Santa Barbara 1988, the service was extended north to the Santa Barbara area with Southern at 6:45 a.m. (Train 759) and departing at Santa Barbara and then in 1995 to San California. With it closed, the automobile 4:40 p.m. (Train 792). A LOSSAN Agency Luis Obispo. The name was changed option involved a long roundabout trip Spokesperson informs me, “Through July to Pacific Surfliner in 2000 to reflect its taking four hours each way. Understandably, 2018, Train 759 (the retimed [morning] train) expansion beyond just serving the Los the faster access the Surfliner provided was a is averaging about 130 boardings per day.” Angeles-San Diego corridor. much more appealing option to many. (Continued on page 16) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 16 of 20

A Survey of Long-Distance and State-supported Passenger Train Service in the Western U.S. (Continued from page 15) Keep San Diego Moving, whose website at the 2018 California Passenger Rail is KeepSanDiegoMoving.com. There is Summit, with an imperative to go forward After extensive public outreach, an also underway a study identifying and driven by grant deadlines. updated fare structure went into effect on evaluating potential locations for a new March 1. maintenance and layover facility in San LOSSAN hopes in Fiscal Year 2018-19 Diego. to implement a 13th round-trip between At Van Nuys station, work is underway Los Angeles and San Diego, extending on a new center platform, including a Grover Beach (south of San Luis Obispo) North to Santa Barbara (sixth roundtrip) pedestrian underpass tunnel to access has secured $3 million for renovations/ and San Luis Obispo (third roundtrip). it. Heretofore the station has had only improvements for its station including To alleviate overcrowding in the interim a single platform on the south side of 42 additional parking spaces and the the Spokesperson tells me they, “… have the tracks. The new center platform relocation of the bus stop to be more received six additional leased Superliner will also have new metal canopies convenient to the depot. cars from Amtrak which will be refurbished and a mini high ramp to service and placed into service in the Pacific Surfliner passengers. It is anticipated to be One corridor improvement that is in in the coming months.” These will facilitate ready in about a year. limbo is the Van Nuys-Chatsworth Double longer consists. Also, the likely deployment Tracking project (officially known as to the Northern California state-supported On Feb. 5, a new bridge over the San Raymond/Bernson) in the San Fernando routes of the new single level passenger Diego River opened. The old rail bridge, Valley northwest of downtown Los railcars currently being manufactured by in use for decades, will be demolished Angeles. The process to plan the project Siemens in Sacramento ,which I referred to make way for a parallel bridge that ground to a halt in 2015 as NIMBYs in a to in previous installments, would free up will complete the double-tracking over residential area along a 1.5-mile segment bi-level equipment for the Surfliner in the the San Diego River. Once the parallel of the project reacted with hysteria. Their coming year or so. bridge is constructed and operational, website [nodoubletrack.com] currently the result will be a continuous seven- raises the specter of oil train derailments The website for the service is www. mile double track segment from Garnet and extols monorail. Sadly, several pacificsurfliner.com Avenue/Balboa Avenue to the Santa local politicians have pandered to this Fe Depot. This is part of a corridor uninformed response. The environmental Dana Gabbard is a RUN Board member and improvement program by the San Diego clearance process is to restart next year executive secretary of Southern California Transit Association of Governments known as per remarks by Richard Clarke of Metro Advocates. Amtrak Loses Sight of Service Mandate

(Continued from page 11) 8) Putting mail and express, both traditionally priority shipments of freight! Amtrak needs assigned to fast and frequent passenger trains, proper and steady funding to accomplish 7) and, speaking of revenue, why are the would pay for the on-board and station job its mission, and current management needs trains NOT carrying mail and express? assignments. More jobs, better service. We understand that mission which is peculiar My sources say that was a huge revenue may not be able to sway Amtrak policy, but to passenger rail. Current perception is that producer. I would suggest that Amtrak also should not be the only ones coming up they do not, and perception is reality. contract with the freight railroads to with ideas for growth. recapture that LCL (less than carload) One really has to want to ride a train to put business that the freights don’t want We don’t set policy for Amtrak, but up with the nonsense that has become the to bother with but would be willing to Congress still wants to reduce the subsidy. bastard step-child of the US transportation accommodate if the price was right! We need to keep hammering the nail industry. I believe the heyday of Amtrak Freight equipment currently in storage of investment as a means to reduce that came and went with Graham Claytor who and re-equipped with higher speed trucks subsidy by investing in the growth, health, took pride in and fought for his product, (wheels, etc for you non -railroaders) could and success of passenger rail. Congress and we need to get it back. service that niche and provide a reason could assist in this by using the threat of for freight roads to give priority to Amtrak re-regulating rail to provide for that joint Phil Streby is a RUN Board member and a board while providing profit to both. venture of fast scheduled trains to haul member of the Indiana Passenger Rail Alliance. RAILRAIL USERS’ USERS’ NETWORK NETWORK NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER PagePage 17 10 of of 20 12

Expanding Passenger Rail in Michigan

(Reprinted from Passenger Train Journal,Vol. 2012. Adjustments have been made to the estimated capital startup costs at $32.4 22, No. 3 (2018-3), issue 276) 2019 schedule to reflect faster running million. Initial ridership was projected at times east of Kalamazoo on the improved 1,600 daily riders. By Richard Rudolph, Ph.D. right-of-way, but the 110 mph system “is Chairman, Rail Users’ Network waiting for an interoperability component Between 2009 - 2011, MDOT invested to be added and tested with the new in track improvements, making higher This is the fifth in a series of articles that Charger engines on the trackage between train speeds possible and new sidings were highlights what rail advocates are doing Kalamazoo and Dearborn.” built, potentially available for train storage. to improve and expand passenger rail The agency also rehabilitated 24 former services in North America. The Michigan Environmental Council METRA rail coaches which could be used (MEC) and the Michigan Association of for the Wally service or the proposed Ann Over the past decade, rail advocates have Rail Passengers (MARP) have played a key Arbor to Detroit commuter rail service. been actively promoting the expansion role co-founding Michigan by Rail – an MDOT and the AATA also updated the of passenger rail service in Michigan. informal coalition of advocates who work initial cost estimates and a more detailed They are optimistic about the role that together to improve and expand passenger Downtown Ann Arbor N-S Rail Station passenger rail can play in the state’s future: rail in the state. It was originally involved Study was completed in 2014. there have been many improvements and in hosting public meetings across the state more are on the horizon. A major track to collect feedback for MDOT’s first state A change in ownership of the Ann Arbor rehabilitation program has been completed rail plan completed in 2011. Current Railroad helped stimulate renewed interest and within the next 12-18 months Amtrak members include the original founders, in the project. Watco purchased the line will have new, more fuel efficient Charger Friends of Wally, Groundwork Center for in 2013 and expressed a willingness to locomotives pulling the coaches. Resilient Communities, and the Michigan consider passenger service on its rail line High Speed Rail Association. The group is through the city. AATA officials have since The Michigan Department of working to build support for multiple rail received a $650,00 federal grant and Transportation (MDOT) sponsors three expansion projects in the state. a 20% match was collected from local intercity passenger routes serving twenty-two contributors to conduct a second feasibility communities with Amtrak operating the The North-South Commuter Rail project study. The study initiated in 2015 included service. The current service provides three (formerly known as Wally) was first major public involvement spanning both daily roundtrips from Chicago to Detroit and proposed in 2006. The initial plan was to Washtenaw and Livingston counties. It Pontiac, Michigan; one roundtrip between establish a 27-mile commuter rail service analyzed capital and operating costs for two Chicago and Port Huron, and one roundtrip on existing state-owned tracks leased to different types of service. A two train shuttle from Chicago to Grand Rapids. the Great Lakes Central RR. The project service from Ann Arbor to Whitmore Lake received a great deal of support from would cost $7 million a year, plus $65.2 An important part of Michigan’s MDOT, communities along the right million in capital improvements. Projected passenger rail services is the improvement of way, corridor property owners, the ridership was set at 1,670 daily riders. of the federally designated high-speed University of Michigan, the Ann Arbor rail corridor between Chicago, Detroit Downtown Alliance and other municipal A more elaborate option would utilize the and Pontiac. Governors in Wisconsin, agencies and the State’s Environmental existing rail line with stops in Howell, Genoa Ohio and Florida sent back hundreds of Protection Agency. Township, Hamburg Township, Whitmore millions of dollars in stimulus funding but Lake and up to three stops in Ann Arbor. Michigan’s Republican Governor Rick The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority It would cost an estimated $13.2 million a Snyder viewed higher speed rail as a wise (AATA) agreed to become the designated year to operate plus $122.3 million in capital investment. Enhancements completed on authority to accept federal grant money improvements, and would attract 1,840 daily the Amtrak-owned section between Porter, that might become available. A portion riders. The study estimated that up to 50% Indiana and Kalamazoo have enabled of passenger rail fares were to be covered of the construction cost could qualify for speeds of up to 110 mph. MDOT’s for three years, and $250,000 was pledged federal funding and the rest could be covered current focus is on the segment of track each year for a three year period to cover through a new property tax of 0.34 mils between Kalamazoo and Dearborn. operating expenses. to 0.84 mils. These new findings produced sticker shock and generated doubts about The state invested nearly $400 million in A feasibility study completed by R.L. whether the commuter rail line would ever be federal grant dollars to purchase the 135 Banks & Associates in 2008 concluded built, but Wally supporters haven’t given up. mile corridor from Norfolk Southern in that the proposed service was feasible and (Continued on page 18) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 18 of 20 Expanding Passenger Rail in Michigan

(Continued from page 17) and municipalities along the route. A third study – Coast to Coast Rail, The Maryland based consultant firm, undertaken in 2015 to consider Currently, they are helping the Livingston Transportation Economics and restoring rail passenger from Holland, County Transportation Coalition build Management Systems (TEMS), hired to Grand Rapids and Detroit – is the public support to create a countywide do a six month study, hopes to wrap up product of nearly five years of work by transportation authority to lead the soon. It is focused on a public-private the Michigan By Rail Coalition. The development and implementation of a partnership or a nonprofit model which MEC, in collaboration with MARP, “Comprehensive Transportation Plan wouldn’t require large operating subsidies. AATA, MDOT and metropolitan for the County.” The essential elements The study will consider ridership planning organizations along the would include commuter rail service to projections, tracks conditions and the proposed route, completed a “Rail Ann Arbor, bus service at both ends, and potential cost for needed upgrades. Ridership and Cost Estimate Study.” expanded paratransit service. The County It was funded by a federal grant and Commissioners have approved a $150,000 Preliminary results show that the contributions from organizations along contract with AECOM Great Lakes A2TC would attract widespread the corridor. The MEC managed the Inc. to examine current public transit ridership. Tourism in Traverse City $100,000 study prepared by TEMS and options in the county and to determine and surrounding areas is expected in conjunction with MARP, it held 16 whether additional fixed-route bus service to double from six million visitors a public meetings all across the corridor is needed, as well as the potential for year to 13 million by 2045. However, in 2015. commuter rail service from Livingston there is a fair amount of skepticism County to Ann Arbor. about the proposed project. So far, The study, completed in early 2016, the consultants have not released cost looked at ridership potential and costs Another group is hoping to establish estimates, which will probably require associated with operating passenger intercity rail service from Ann Arbor to both state and federal investments, rail service on three different routes Traverse City and Petoskey in northwest and funds from the communities that would include stops in Holland, Michigan. The Groundwork Center for that would be served to build train Grand Rapids and Lansing, but differed Resilient Communities (GCRC) launched stations. MDOT officials have not regarding how passenger trains would run what it is calling the A2TC project back taken a position yet and are waiting from Lansing to Detroit. Based on the in February 2015. Jim Bruckbauer, the to see the outcome of the study. Track study, the cost-benefit was strongest for Deputy Director of GCRC, believes work could run into hundreds of route two, which would run from Lansing there is widespread interest in establishing millions of dollars, and there are other to Howell to Ann Arbor, Wayne and passenger rail service to northwest considerations as well, such as positive Detroit. It would have strong ridership, Michigan. He believes it is a unique train control that may be required. lower capital costs and provide the opportunity, for the state owns the tracks greatest return on investment. and it will provide transportation options Despite these issues, Bruckbauer is for travelers and the 90,000 college / optimistic. Some of the track, he The study also compared cost for 79- university students along the line. It maintains, could be used for special mph service versus 110-mph service. was number one on the list of priorities events to bring people to the various The lower speed service on the 186- resulting from the 2011 statewide MDOT festivals and other events. Since mile route would require an annual rail planning process. the track is owned by the state, he subsidy of approximately $3 million believes MDOT and the FRA would and upfront capital investment of The proposed A2TC Traverse to support this type of private service. $130.9 million. The 110-mph service Ann Arbor route would include stops In the meantime, an analysis will be would require a greater capital in Cadillac, Mount Pleasant, Alma, conducted to look at the economic investment of $436 million but would Owosso and Howell with a possible potential for cities along the line and generate higher ridership enabling option of continuing to Detroit. The to determine station locations. MARP the service to recover its operating last 26 miles are part of the Wally route, supports the project and would like to expenses and generate more than $12 which could lead to resource sharing if see several trains a day run from Ann million in annual profits based on eight both projects became a reality. Arbor to Traverse City and Petoskey. daily round trips. The large number of tourists who visit The GCTC has raised $100,000 to pay Traverse City and nearby winter and While the report recommended a for a feasibility study from a federal summer sport venues and casinos along number of next steps, rail advocates are grant, along with matching funds from the route, it believes, would justify the now working to build support for a MDOT, community organizations investment. (Continued on page 19) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 19 of 20 Expanding Passenger Rail in Michigan

(Continued from page 18) a 1.2 mill tax proposal on the ballot four-county area this coming fall. For in the four counties in November that to happen, however, the plan needs collaborative effort to establish an 2016 that would have funded a 20- majority approval of the nine-member eight-frequency 110-mph rail passenger year, $4.6 billion regional transit plan, RTA Board of Directors, which has service from coast to coast. They hope including the introduction of commuter two representatives from each of the to identify champions along the line rail service between Ann Arbor and four counties, as well as one member who would be willing to put up a third Detroit. Unfortunately, the RTA plan from the governor’s office and the City of the $900 million needed to establish was narrowly defeated, receiving 56% of Detroit. There has also been some the proposed service. This support support in Washtenaw, 53% support discussion about a two-county plan – a would create a better chance to get in Wayne, 50% in Oakland and 40% Wayne-Washtenaw transit plan if the 4 state and federal money needed to in Macomb county. Since June 2017, -county plan lacks support. underwrite the project. leaders from the four counties and Detroit have been meeting to “pick up In closing, one could conclude that Establishing commuter rail service over the pieces” and the Kresge Foundation passenger rail in Michigan has been the 38-mile rail line between Ann Arbor has given money to update the plan. “studied to death over the past decade.” and Detroit has been discussed over the Undoubtedly, some advocates would past decade, but still lacks a funding The RTA has recently unveiled a new agree, but each study is different source. Both MDOT and the Southeast proposal calling for a 1.5 mill tax that regarding the level of service offered, Michigan Council of Governments would fund a 20-year, $5.4 billion the type of agency involved in building have discussed and studied the route. regional transit plan, which includes and running the service, as well as The Regional Transportation Authority commuter rail service between Ann opportunities for private investment. (RTA) of Southeast Michigan which Arbor and Detroit. The proposed The key is to network both public and oversees transit planning and funding service would run eight trips per day, business support. The proponents of for Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland and with stops in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, these various projects are not ready to Macomb counties has also conducted Wayne, Dearborn and Detroit. It give up but are continuing their efforts the “Michigan Ave Corridor Study also includes funding for express bus to build greater legislative support for Locally Preferred Alternative Report”. service between Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti their endeavors. Hopefully, one or more This report released in May 2016 and Detroit’s Metro Airport. This of these projects will become a reality provided the basis for the RTA to put proposal may be on the ballot in the within the next decade.

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