NEWSLETTER Winter 2015 Vol. 12, Issue 1

Join Us in Los Angeles!

By Richard Rudolph Murphy, General Manager Grant Agreements. Also Individual Chair, Rail Users’ Network of Amtrak’s Long Distance discussed will be prospects for Services. Chris Coes, a staff the downtown Los Angeles Highlights Join us at “Making the member of Smart Growth streetcar project to secure a Transition from Roads to Rail America and Managing small starts grant. Conference” in what was once Director of Locus, will give the RUNning on considered the car capital keynote address. The third panel will feature of the world. This exciting advocates who have been Social Media p. 2 meeting is taking place Friday, In addition to exciting fighting to keep the Southwest March 27, 2015 from 8:00 to 5 speakers, there will be a series Chief running, in light of the MTA Holds More p.m. at the Southern California of interactive panels. The demand by the track owner, Fare Hearings p. 3 Association of Government first will examine how Transit BNSF, that the affected states Offices, 818 West 7th St., 12th Oriented Development has and Amtrak contribute to the Floor, in Los Angeles. This impacted the local economy cost of keeping the railroad in Two Breakthroughs national conference, which is over the past decades, what condition to host a passenger In p. 4 being sponsored by the Rail is currently happening with train. The Best Practices Users’ Network, will examine the start up of new light rail panel will examine the most Colorado: On a how Los Angeles is making lines and why the first and last effective ways in which rail & miles are important. The new transit advocates can enlist the Global Track? p. 6 the transition from roads to rail. Featured speakers include rail starts panel will highlight media, elected officials and Denny Zane, Executive how two projects, the Regional like-minded individuals to help Pssenger Rail Funding Director of Move LA; Arthur Connector and Purple Line gain more/better service for In Oregon p. 8 Leahy, CEO of Los Angelos extension phase one, secured communities. Metro (invited); and Mark in the past year Full Funding (Continued on page 5) Timekeeping and Other Amtrak Woes p. 9 New Starts in 2014 Showcase A Wide Variety of Transit And From New Mexico... p. 13 By David Peter Alan highlighted as transit improvements transit line or segment. So did are busway projects (often referred two cities in Canada. No mode or This past year was a good one to as “BRT” or “bus rapid transit”). region dominated the new starts. Gov.-Elect Baker’s for new transit starts, although We do not count them, since they Long Climb Ahead p. 14 several projects that should have are not rail projects, and do not add The first new start of the year been completed must wait until any rail infrastructure or service. came to Florida, although it did The Very First next year to begin service. There There are also station projects, such not add any new rail mileage. It Fairmount Train p. 15 were eight new starts this year in as the Fulton Transit Center in is the Sun Rail commuter line in the United States and Canada, and the Union Station the Orlando, FL area. It opened representing several different Project in Denver, but these projects on May 1 between a park-and- Samling Utah’s regions and every mode of rail do not add any new destinations for ride station at DeBarry (south FrontRunner p. 15 transit, except heritage streetcars. transit riders. of Deland and north of Winter Park) and another park-and- At RUN, we are concerned Except for the Northeast Region ride station at Sand Lake Road exclusively with new RAIL transit (unless you consider the Virginia (south of Orlando and north lines. That includes “commuter” suburbs of Washington, DC to of Kissimmee). Plans call for rail, urban heavy rail (also called be part of the Northeast) and the expansion north to Deland and “metropolitan rail”), light rail Northwest, every region of the south to Kissimmee in the future. and streetcars. Many projects U.S. added at least one new rail (Continued on page 10) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 2 of 16

RUNning with Facebook and Twitter Bringing Social Media to Rail Advocacy posting about Via Rail. On the other hand, we try to generate interest in individual regions by posting about local issues, such as MTA fare hikes and “dinky” train service in Princeton. While RUN covers the entire U.S. and Canada, we can’t lose sight of the fact that everything begins at the local level.

While social media in and of itself is important, the true goal of RUN’s new initiative is to convert those who interact on social media into volunteers and members. Social media will be one way, in addition to the RUN Newsletter and the website, in which we keep people posted on what we’re accomplishing. This will prove to those who interact with us that we’re an organization who gets stuff done for rail passengers, By Andy Sharpe Shortly after creating RUN’s Facebook which in turn will motivate them to presence, we decided to delve into Twitter. volunteer for us in getting the word out, Recognizing that the organization needed Twitter is a lot more complicated for many writing statements, or flyering. In addition, to reach out to younger tech-savvy mass people, and thus is thus more difficult for a the people we meet via Facebook and transit advocates, the Rail Users Network lot of rail advocates, especially those who Twitter will see it worthwhile to become reached out to myself and Dave Mitchell are older or less tech-savvy, to get behind. long-term members of RUN. from Virginia’s Hampton Roads for Rail With its mix of hash tags, shortened links, to create a social media presence. We and 140-character limit, Twitter can Dave and I both have quite a bit of immediately put our heads together and certainly confuse. However, Twitter is an experience with social media and mass discussed what kinds of social media amazing tool, since many organizations, transit advocacy. During my four-year stint would be most beneficial for RUN. We agencies, politicians, journalists and as Communications Director at DVARP, I both came to the conclusion that Facebook individuals have discovered it’s a very created the Facebook group and fan pages, and Twitter would be the two most useful effective way to quickly get their message Twitter feed, and YouTube channel. I was platforms for reaching fellow rail and out. It’s a tremendous way to reach young able to bring in a number of new dues- transit advocates, be they individuals, people in college and high school who have paying members and volunteers. Also, organizations and/or lawmakers. decided that Facebook is no longer cool. social media was the primary method It’s also useful for reaching like-minded of getting the word out about mass We decided to start with Facebook, since the people through re-Tweeting, favoriting and transit-related weeknight workshops and site has far more members and is easier to lists. These like-minded people could easily fundraising initiatives such as Donuts for understand for a lot of mass transit advocates. become RUN members. DVARP. While I am no longer affiliated After some debate over whether to create a fan with DVARP’s social media because of page or group, we decided to start with a fan While both of us have extensive social my current role at SEPTA, I continue to page, with the possibility of adding a group media experience on the local and regional monitor the group page. Dave Mitchell has for more discussion and volunteer recruitment levels, myself with the Delaware Valley been the driving force behind the social later. One great promotional tool that Facebook Association of Rail Passengers (DVARP) media sites for Bring the Tide to Virginia offers is the ability to invite any or all of your and Dave with Bring the Tide to Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads for Rail. Bring Facebook friends to “like” your page. This has Beach, posting about issues on a nationwide the Tide to Virginia Beach’s Facebook page resulted in almost all of our “page likes” so far. level was new to us. With this in mind, boasts 2,790 members, while the Twitter Facebook also enables organizations to make we’ve easily adjusted to this by posting on feed has an impressive 1,345 followers. posts as long or short as necessary. Short posts both the macro and micro levels. On one are helpful for capturing the fleeting attention hand, we’ve decided to cover the entire Andy Sharpe is customer service agent at of social media users, while longer posts help U.S. by posting on nationwide trends with Southeast Pennsylavnia Transportation Authority. build credibility and go in-depth on vital topics. Amtrak and the entirety of Canada by RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 3 of 16 MTA Holds Public Hearings On Proposed Fare Hikes

By Andrew Albert the best attendance of them all, a mere 22 There are still hearings to be held, and we speakers were heard from. And not one will see what the turnout is like. There have For the fourth time in seven years, New elected officials showed up! In fact, there been many improvements to the system York’s Metropolitan Transportation were huge gaps where no one had signed since the last fare hike, and undoubtedly, Authority is proposing to hike fares on up to speak, and Board Members were riders have noticed them. Of course, no New York’s subway, buses, commuter adjourned until people arrived and signed one likes to pay more for anything, and trains, and tolls. However, this time is up to speak. some spoke to that reality. But having fare different. Unlike previous fare hikes, which hikes coupled with service cuts is a real have yielded 7.5% in additional revenue, Why the difference this time? There are lose-lose situation, and that is not the case and have been accompanied by service probably a few factors. First, the two options this time. cuts, this increase will amount to a 4% for the increases—one in which the base fare increase, with a yield of approximately would jump from $2.50 to $2.75, and the Fulton Center opens! 3.7%, and no service cuts. Every-other bonus would jump from 5% to 11%, with year fare hikes have been scheduled for the weekly being raised $1 to $31, and the At 5:00 A.M. on Monday, Nov. 10, the many years, and this one is due to take monthly by $4.50 to $116.50; and option Fulton Center opened to the public. The effect in March, 2015. 2, which would keep the base fare at $2.50, Fulton Center is a grand shopping mall but the bonus would be eliminated, with the and transit center, and presently connects As usual, public hearings are being same increases for the weekly & monthly nine subway lines: the 2,3,4,5,A,C,J,R & held throughout the MTA service area, passes—are well below the fare hikes that Z lines. After some more passageways and unfortunately, sometimes with two have taken place previously. Coupled with are constructed by the Port Authority, being held the same evening. I have the fact that there are no service cuts (in two more lines—the 1 and E, as well as attended two of the hearings thus far, fact, some service has been increased), and PATH service—will also be connected. and will be attending another two in this is holiday time, with many people doing This will allow a rider to travel completely the coming weeks. The hearings, which their shopping and other business, and you underground protected from weather—from are usually accompanied by yells, have diminished attendance. There may also Greenwich Street all the way to William catcalls, nasty epithets and the usual be a feeling of resignation, that this is a fait Street! The building includes a oculisk on the lambasting by elected officials, have accompli, and why take time out to come roof—which allows natural light to penetrate been uncharacteristically tame. At the and make a statement, when the inevitable all the way down to some of the platforms. Manhattan hearing, which frequently has will take place anyway. (Continued on page 12)

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 Steep Falls, 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 Gary Prophet, Treasurer Ossining, NY Vice President, Empire State Passengers Association David Peter Alan, Esq. South Orange, NJ Lackawanna Coalition Steve Albro Cleveland, OH Cleveland RTA Citizen Advisory Board Pamela Bush Boston, MA T-Riders Oversight Committee (MBTA) James E. Coston, Esq. Chicago, IL Corridor Capital LLC Bill Engel Clinton, 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.

Please send comments, letters to editor or articles for possible publications to the Rail Users’ Network at: RUN; 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME 04085 or email to [email protected]

Layout/design editor: Paul Bubny RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 4 of 16 Two Breakthroughs in Chicago Englewood Flyover Untangles Major South Side Choke Point; New Metra Board and Management Shake Off Decades of Sloth

By F.K. Plous Actually, the bridge is not likely to involve But is the Flyover working? Have the much of a speedup to Metra/Rock Island delays been abolished? Are all trains Shippers, Amtrak passengers, traffic because Rock Island was the senior moving on time? commuters and taxpayers may not railroad at the Englewood crossing, so have noticed it yet, but their lives just its trains always enjoyed priority over the Actually, we won’t know about that for got a little better because of two big Pennsy’s. When Metra bought the Rock’s another year, because the 33 miles of track breakthroughs just realized in the Chicago-Joliet track from the bankruptcy between the state line and Porter, IN is nation’s increasingly busy and congested trustee in the 1980s it inherited Rock Island’s undergoing its own construction project railroad center. rights, which effectively created a 90-minute that’s created new delays independent of embargo on NS freight traffic passing through anything going on at Englewood. The $71.2- The first breakthrough—a literal and each morning and evening rush hour. million Indiana Gateway project will give physical one—came October 23 when NS additional capacity/fluidity by installing elected officials, railroad managers and The ensuring backups rippled across five new crossovers and several miles of third local transit officials gathered on the the Chicago-area switching network. main track, but until it’s complete the project South Side at 63rd and State streets to Knowing Englewood would be actually is slowing trains down as they pass dedicate the long-awaited Englewood blocked, NS dispatchers routinely held through the work area. Flyover. westbound trains at Elkhart or South Bend, while Union Pacific through It was the Gateway project which accounted Under construction since 2011 and trains headed for interchange with NS for some of the dismal drops in On Time actually in partial operation for would be held at West Chicago, 43 Performance suffered by Amtrak during several weeks prior to the formal miles west of Englewood, lest they get October and part of November, including dedication, the 3/4-mile long stopped somewhere deep inside the city several episodes when the Capitol and Lake Flyover ends more than 150 years of and tip its tangled web of main lines, Shore couldn’t reach Chicago at all and had inter-railroad conflict by lifting the yards and interlockings into gridlock. to be turned at Toledo while their passengers north-south alignment of the former Englewood was a major source of were bused around the gap. Officials said Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific delays for Amtrak’s Capitol Limited and some of the Gateway work required taking Railroad 23 feet into the air over the Broadway Limited connecting Chicago one main line out of service temporarily, northwest-southeast alignment of with the East, and it regularly delayed forcing one of the nation’s busiest main lines the former Railroad’s Amtrak’s three daily Wolverine round to go single-track, a situation that clearly Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago trips to Detroit, the Pere Marquette to could not endure, so when something had to subsidiary. Norfolk Southern now Grand Rapids and the Blue Water to give it was the Amtrak trains. owns this part of the P Ft.W&C, East Lansing and Port Huron. but uses it only as far as the - Nor is it clear exactly how much Indiana state line, where it switches to But Englewood also was the grain of improvement the typical Amtrak the former New York Central Water sand in the oyster that generated the pearl passenger will experience once all of Level Route to Toledo and Cleveland. known as CREATE, the Chicago Regional the new capacity comes on line. Under Environment and Transportation Equity the federal legislation that funded With the new bridge in operation, 78 agenda of projects designed to streamline the the improvements, freight railroads weekday Metra/Rock Island commuter city’s antiquated rail infrastructure. Englewood do not receive funding to undertake trains pass through the former at-grade qualified for $142 million worth of federal, the new track work until they commit crossing without blocking the 60 daily state, city and rail-industry funding, and it’s to a specific increase in speed and Norfolk Southern freight trains or the 14 likely to deliver the biggest bang for the buck timekeeping reliability for the passenger daily Amtrak trains that pass through this of any of the dozens of projects CREATE trains that justify the federal investment. location. has built or still has pending. (Continued on page 11) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 5 of 16 Join Us in Los Angeles!

( The registration fee of $75 (until March 15, 2015; $85 after that; and $90 at the door) includes a continental breakfast, lunch, a refreshment break, and all conference materials/handouts. If you wish to stay in Los Angeles before or after the conference, we suggest that you look at Los Angeles’s official website, Discover LosAngeles.com to learn about hotel accommodations in the area. Please join us at what promises to be a very exciting, worthwhile event. Participants can register and make payment on RUN’s website: railusers. net or via regular mail. Checks should be sent to RUN, 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME. 04085.

More details concerning the conference will be announced on our website as A Green Line Metro train in Los Angeles.. arrangements are made, and will also (Continued from page 1) 28. Besides riding some of the new appear in the Spring issue of the RUN L.A. Metro light rail lines, we hope Newsletter. For more information, you can Participants attending the conference will to arrange a behind the scene tour also call Richard Rudolph, Chair, Rail also have an opportunity to be part of an of Union Station and Metro’s Rail Users’ Network. He can best be reached inspection tour on Saturday, March Operations Center. at (207) 776-4961.

Your help is needed! By now you should have received our annual appeal letter. While it is always difficult to ask for financial help, your generosity will help us to continue and deepen our work in the coming year. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution before the end of this tax year. Rail advocacy is important to a balanced national transportation system. Each organization is stronger working together rather than individually; RUN can make a stronger case for increased funding for rail service with a geographically diverse, larger membership base. Your contribution will strengthen our impact and broaden our reach as we continue to represent all rail passengers, including long distance, commuter, and transit riders. You can donate online using your credit card or pay pal account on the Rail Users’ Network website or make a check out to RUN and mail it to 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME. 04085. We thank you in advance for your support and hope you have a great holiday season and new year.

Many thanks, Richard Rudolph, Ph.D. Chair, Rail Users’ Network RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 6 of 16 Colorado: On a Global Track For Rail Prominence? By James Souby Those numbers would be substantially a business and residential neighborhood higher if not for capacity constraints on the to the north (30th Avenue at Welton Street). Colorado has a rich railroad history two trains. These same problems also limit Connecting bus services are provided along dating from 1868. That is when Denver’s the state’s ability to capitalize on the trains the route and at both terminals. The Central city fathers refused to be by-passed as for tourism purposes. Just five years ago, the Rail Line served as the proof of concept the transcontinental railroad was being famous Ski Train carried Denver passengers for the bold, 30 year build out of Denver’s planned across Wyoming. They financed a to and from Winter Park during the ski rail network. Six years later the Southwest connecting line, a high-risk but successful season before it met its demise while Denver Rail Line was opened. It ran for about nine enterprise that ensured Denver would Union Station underwent redevelopment. miles and served the suburb of Littleton and indeed become the Queen City of the Restoring the Ski Train is one of the three other stations, connecting them with Rocky Mountain Empire. The first train Colorado Rail Passenger Association’s key downtown Denver. Parking for 3,600 cars is from Cheyenne arrived in 1870. building blocks for expanding passenger an important component of this system, as rail in Colorado. Restoring “Front Range” well as connecting bus service. A look at the Denver and Rio Grande commuter and intercity rail service to Western system map from 1896 provides the north and south of Denver make up The next major test for RTD’s system was graphic evidence of the vast network of additional key building blocks. These services the so-called T-REX project or Southeast standard- and narrow-gauge rail lines would connect with the Southwest Chief at a Rail Line. This 19 mile line connected the in and through the Colorado Rockies. new stop in Pueblo, under ColoRail’s plan. burgeoning Denver Tech Center business These lines connected mountain mining and residential areas with downtown and agricultural communities throughout In the meantime, the Denver metropolitan Denver. The line was constructed in the I-25 the state, including places that are now region’s tremendous growth over the past corridor with highway improvements in renowned for skiing ,such as Aspen and 50 years has fueled a new era of passenger cooperation with the Colorado Department Crested Butte. Vestiges of this network rail construction in Colorado. This system of Transportation. Construction followed the remain today of course, and Colorado’s was first envisioned by visionary civic and enactment of local property taxes from the nine scenic lines run over some of the legislative leaders in the late 1960s. In 1969, communities served by the new line in 1999. most dramatic and historic track. The these efforts led to the passage of the “RTD The line serves as a mobile billboard for rail majority of the lines are now hiking trails, Act” by the Colorado General Assembly transit services as the light rail trains pass highway rights of way, or bike paths, creating a state special district (the Regional automobile traffic often slowed to a standstill however. Transportation District) and authorizing by congestion in both directions. The line districtwide taxation as allowed under state will be further extended over two miles in As the gold and silver mines played law. Later amendments created an elected the near future as a result of the FasTracks out and ownership of trucks and Board of Directors representing 15 separate initiative, a ballot measure passed in 2004 automobiles became ubiquitous, regions within the district. A constitutional with great civic support including ColoRail passenger and freight railroading in tax initiative subsequently required any and its members. Colorado followed the same trajectory tax measure to be approved by a vote of of decline as elsewhere in the nation. the concerned citizens. Further legislation The FasTracks initiative also provided the Twelve freight railroads remain in authorized the Denver Regional Council of financial underpinning for major additional service, two Class Ones: the Union Governments (DRCOG) to oversee RTD rail expansions throughout the Metro area. Pacific and the BNSF Railway; while fiscal matters. DRCOG comprises elected The West Rail Line connects 12 miles of some ten short lines feed them. Scenic representatives from the local governments light rail to downtown from Golden, west of lines and occasional excursions aside, within the RTD. It also serves as the Denver, and 11 other stations. Stops include Amtrak now remains the only passenger Metropolitan Planning Organization. the Jefferson County Government Center, service provider with two trains through the massive Federal Center, the Auraria Colorado, the California Zephyr and the The RTD system’s first rail component college campus center and access to .Sports Southwest Chief. About 230,000 people opened in 1994. The five-mile light rail Authority Field at Mile HI, home of the board and alight from these trains in line crossed Denver from a major Interstate Denver Broncos. The line was opened to Colorado every year. junction in the south (I-25 at Broadway) to (Continued on next page) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 7 of 16 Colorado: On a Global Track?

(Coninued from page 6) next few years. The North Metro Rail and tourism. First-class transit systems Line is planned for 19 miles running inevitably bolster the economies and great fanfare in 2013. The I-225 Line, which north northeast from Denver Union development of every major metropolis in runs through Aurora, east of Denver, for Station through Commerce City to the world. This is because these expensive- almost 11 miles, serves this population center the communities of Thornton and to-build systems actually reduce costs to which is now the third largest in Colorado. It Northglenn. The first 12.5 miles will citizens and businesses over time and that will soon be extended to provide connectivity open in 2018. The balance of the line is wealth is reinvested locally. with the East Line commuter rail service currently committed but not funded. The which is under construction. massive Northwest Rail Line is remains The author takes full responsibility for the a 41-mile commuter rail commitment accuracy of information in this report. The The East Line, more popularly known as approved by the voters in 2004, but the author is indebted to: the DIA (Denver International Airport) cost estimates have now exceeded available Line, will run from Denver Union funding under FasTracks. This line would The Colorado Department of Station 23 miles east northeast to the connect DUS with Longmont to the Transportation and its forthcoming airport, principally along Union Pacific north, but would run northwest through Statewide Transit Rail Plan. CDOT has right of way. This electric rail line will a number of communities including made several presentations to the Colorado open in 2016. Cars for the line will be Boulder before heading northeast to Rail Passenger Association (ColoRail) on display at Denver Union Station this Longmont. RTD has said it can construct concerning the information included in this December. The East Line will herald about seven miles of the line to get it out report. the electric commuter rail service phase of downtown Denver congestion and to the Colorado rail resurgence. It will as far as Westminster. FasTracks also The Denver Regional Transportation serve five additional stops enroute and includes a high performance bus rapid District (RTD) for several presentations will be a major link for Denver’s vision transit (BRT) system along Highway 36 to ColoRail concerning the information of fast, convenient intermodal passenger between Denver and Boulder, which is included in this report. For a map of transportation services. It will also create a parallel to the planned Northwest Rail the Denver region RTD rail network, new appreciation for passenger rail service Line. This BRT system is scheduled to see: http://www.rtd-denver.com/ throughout the Front Range of Colorado. open in 2016. Arterial BRT is also being FastracksMap.shtml considered prior to the completion of the The communities of Wheat Ridge and full Northwest Rail, but interim bus and Schwantes, Carlos A. and P Ronda, James Arvada, as well as the balance of Adams bus rapid transit service is planned until P. University of Washington Press, The West County north northwest of Denver, will be additional funding is secured. the Railroads Made, 2008. This publication is served by commuter rail later in 2016. This a great, illustrated summary of the history 11-mile electric line, known as the Gold The RTD build-out represents a of western railroading. Line, will have seven stops for commuters major civic, political and engineering along with ample parking and bus service. accomplishment. The recently reopened James Souby’s rail activities include President of and already renowned Denver Union the Colorado Rail Passenger Association, Regional The final, and perhaps grandest, commuter Station serves as a central hub for this Director for the National Association of Railroad lines are still in the hopper, though some transit network which will elevate Denver Passengers, and Commissioner on the Southwest major segments will be constructed in the to the status of a global center for trade Chief Rail Line Commission of Colorado.

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By Art Poole fuel taxes that are derived from off-road use. In 2009 the Oregon Legislature doubled These funds are not adequate to continue the custom license plate fee and dedicated Oregon belongs to the federally designated Oregon’s share of passenger rail funding. it to passenger rail. However, revenue has Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor. Partners The legislature convened a task force to come in much lower than expected. The include Washington State, Amtrak, host examine possible funding schemes, but no vanity plate program provides about $6.8 railroads BNSF Railway and Union action was taken. Oregon does not have the million and the “lawn mower fund” about Pacific Railroad, and the Federal Railroad revenue available for the required match $3.16 million per biennium. Administration. Long distance trains, for federal funds to improve passenger rail Amtrak’s Coast Starlight and Empire Builder, service, nor the revenue to maintain and In November, the Oregon Transportation connect Oregon to the national network. operate the infrastructure once it is built. Forum (OTF) issued a transportation funding and policy package that requests Most of the passenger stations are owned On a positive note, the Oregon $22.6 million per biennium to operate and supported by local governments. In Transportation Commission approved a and maintain Oregon’s portion of Amtrak 2013, Oregon contributed two new Talgo new state rail plan in September, and it is Cascades service. Under PRIIA, states trainsets to the Amtrak Cascades service that currently under review for acceptance by the must pay for service in corridors of 750 operate cooperatively in the corridor between Federal Railroad Administration under the miles or less. This amount would be in Eugene, OR and Vancouver, B.C. Since Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement addition to the funds coming from custom 1995, Oregon has augmented train service Act of 2008 (PRIIA). If approved, Oregon license plates and the “lawn mower fund.” with buses operated cooperatively with would be eligible to receive future federal Amtrak under the Thruway brand. Today, funding when it becomes available. “The [OTF] is a private, nonprofit Oregon supports six daily round-trips by bus membership organization that encourages between Portland and Eugene. Other buses Oregon’s population is nearly four million full development, maintenance and make connections with the corridor, too. people. The Oregon portion of the integration of all transportation modes, Amtrak Cascades Corridor is mainly in including highway, pedestrian, bicycle, air, In 2012, Oregon Department of the Willamette Valley. During the next transit, marine and rail, for the safe and Transportation (ODOT) and Washington 25 years, the population of the Valley is efficient movement of people and products.” State Department of Transportation expected to grow about 35%, according to (WSDOT) signed a memorandum of the 2010 Oregon Rail Study. OTF also supports restoration of the non- understanding that commits the two agencies roadway ConnectOregon funding to a to the concept of joint operation of the service Oregon does have a lottery-backed bond previous level of $100 million for the 2015- as a single corridor. ODOT and WSDOT program, ConnectOregon, to support non- 2017 biennium. OTF says in a comment: have been meeting monthly since November roadway infrastructure projects. One capital “This is a short-term step to be taken while 2013 to manage the corridor collaboratively project recently enabled Union Pacific we progress toward the creation of a Multi- and work toward cost savings and efficiencies. Railroad to give higher priority to a needed Modal Trust Fund analogous to the Highway bridge replacement project north of Eugene Trust Fund, with dedicated revenues Because the northern terminus of the that is used by freight trains and Amtrak evenly split between passenger and freight corridor is Vancouver, B.C., ODOT and Cascades and Coast Starlight trains. The old investments.” WSDOT are trying to get British Columbia bridge had a longstanding 30-mph slow engaged as a partner. The province has not order. The recently completed new bridge In Oregon, and probably in most other shared costs with the states. has a 79-mph speed limit for passenger trains. states, now is the time for advocates to make their case with government leaders General funds of Oregon come primarily Oregon’s budget is biennial, and the for the future of passenger rail. from property taxes. There is no sales legislature will convene in February tax. Also, the State Highway Fund is 2015. Rail advocates should now be Art Poole is a past officer of NARP and is still an constitutionally restricted to be spent only communicating as individuals with the active member and supporter. As a board member on roads. So what is the source of support Governor, John Kitzhaber; transportation of the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit outside of ticket revenue? The only state chairs of the state senate and house; and their Advocates, he represents that organization on the funding for passenger rail is from the sale of local government officials about the financial Oregon Rail Users’ League. Art lives in Coos vanity automobile license plates and the so- resources needed to sustain and grow Bay, where he serves on the chamber of commerce called “lawn mower fund,” an estimate of passenger rail service. transportation committee. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 9 of 16 Capitol and Lake Shore Timekeeping: Issues Remain Hard to Solve

By Bill Engel changes. That way, an extra set of late, the Buffalo area of New York cars would be available to protect an State was hit by an unprecedented late In a recent issue of the RUN Newsletter, on-time departure for the eastbound fall “lake effect” snowstorm. Snowfall I wrote about the chronic lateness Capitol if the westbound was several was measured in feet. Amtrak was of the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore hours late arriving at Chicago. forced to cancel all service west of Limited, especially the Lake Shore. I Another significant occurrence in late Albany, including the Lake Shore. wish I could say the situation has October was the official opening of Cleveland-to-Chicago service was been corrected, but sadly it has not. the Englewood flyover in southeast provided only by the Capitol for three Amtrak has made attempts at keeping Chicago (see article on page 4 of days. the trains on time, but there is not this issue). Metra Rock Island line much they can do about the freight commuter trains now cross tracks With seasonal rail maintenance congestion problem that Norfolk used by Amtrak trains and Norfolk programs winding down, perhaps Southern has on the former New York Southern freight trains on an overpass train traffic will begin flowing more Central route west of Cleveland into rather than at grade. This makes for a smoothly, and these chronic delays to Chicago. Here is what has been done much smoother flow of rail traffic. Amtrak trains will go away. Norfolk as of the end of November. Southern hopes to complete its massive On Nov. 17, Amtrak filed a formal yard expansion project at Bellevue, OH For a week in early October, both the request with the Surface Transportation by the end of December. While not Capitol and Lake Shore trains were Board for an investigation about delays directly on the line used by Amtrak, terminated in Toledo, OH. Passengers to both the Capitol Limited and the Lake the project must certainly impact were transported by chartered motor Shore Limited by Norfolk Southern and freight train flow in the region. This coaches between Toledo and Chicago. CSX. The results of this investigation writer will continue to monitor on-time Then in the middle of October, will not be known for some time. performance of both the Capitol and the Capitol consist was modified by Lake Shore Limiteds. substituting a single Superliner diner- Just as it appeared some progress had lounge car for the regular diner and been made in at least reducing the Bill Engel is a RUN Board member based in sightseer lounge cars, among other amount of time that the Lake Shore was Clinton, OH. My Recent Rides on the Capitol Limited: Downgrade of Service By Steve Hastalis perhaps five or six round-trips per year, delays make it harder for Amtrak to service since retiring from the Chicago Transit and turn around equipment, making it About 20 years ago, Amtrak upgraded Authority at the end of May, 2010. ready for the next trip. service on the Capitol Limited, 30 eastbound and 29 westbound, by I regret to report that several developments Delays related to increased freight assigning superliners and operating in recent months have converged traffic may keep passengers on board full diner service. I rode this train less to diminish the quality of this travel Amtrak trains hours longer for each trip. than a week after Amtrak assigned this experience. Due to frequent delays of Amtrak therefore should do what it can equipment to it. I usually ride this train several hours in each direction, Amtrak to maintain, rather than downgrade the between Chicago and Washington, has assigned a diner/lounge car to each customers’ experience. DC and occasionally between Chicago consist, rather than the former two cars: and Pittsburgh, connecting with Train full diner and sightseer lounge with the 42, the Pennsylvanian to New York. The small cafe downstairs. Additionally, salads Steve Hastalis is a RUN Bard member based on-board personnel now recognize me, and beverages no longer come included in in Chicago. give that I have increased my riding to the price of full meals in the diner. These RAILRAIL USERS’ USERS’ NETWORK NETWORK NEWSLETTER NEWSLETTER PagePage 10 10 of of 16 12

New Rail Starts for 2014

(Continued from page 1) streetcar is available at vending machines system consists of two lines, which share at stops for $4.00. Currently, there are common trackage along Seventh Avenue The Amtrak stations at Orlando and no single-ride or senior/disabled fares downtown, and diverge to different Winter Park also have Sun Rail service, available at streetcar stops. destinations on both ends. as do two stations in between: one at LYNX Central Terminal to connect with The only “heavy-rail” expansion in 2014 There was a three-month gap before local buses, and the other at Church took place on Washington, DC’s Metro service began on the three most- Street Station in downtown Orlando. system. It is Phase I of the new Silver recently-opened transit segments. The Other stations are billed as park-and- Line with five new stations, where service next opening took place on the Bay ride facilities. Some, like Maitland and began on the next day, July 26. The new Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, Longwood, are near the towns they line goes toward Dulles Airport, and which operates in San Francisco and serve. Others, like Sanford, are far from will terminate there when Phase II of the East Bay area. BART is a heavy-rail downtown and do not have convenient the line is completed. That is expected system, but the new line is different. It bus connections. Service on Sun Rail runs to occur in 2018. The Silver Line runs is an airport-style people-mover that every 30 minutes in both directions during concurrently with the Blue or Orange began operation as a shuttle between peak-commuting hours, but there is little Lines for much of its route, branching BART’s Coliseum Station and Oakland service at any other time. It is limited off to the Northwest between East Falls International Airport (OAK) on during mid-day and early evening hours Church and West Falls Church. The new November 21st. The new shuttle replaced on weekdays, and there are no trains on segment goes through Tysons Corner and the former AirBART shuttle bus line with weekends. Reston. Municipal officials and planners an eight-minute monorail ride. The fare are hoping that the new line will spur is the highest on the BART system; $6.00 Minnesota’s “Twin Cities” of Minneapolis transit-oriented development (TOD) in an for the airport ride, and an additional and St. Paul are now connected by rail. area that been characterized by highway $6.00 added to the fare between Coliseum The Central Connector between the two gridlock for many years. Station and other points. Youth, senior or downtown areas and along University “disabled” fares are lower. Avenue (also known as the “Green Line”) The next opening came in August, opened for service on June 14. The new continuing a four-month streak. That “Snowbirds” who spend the winter in line is 9.8 miles long, in addition to the opening was the DART (Dallas Area Florida and the summer in Montreal portion in downtown Minneapolis that Rapid Transit) Orange Line from Beltline now have new commuter-rail lines in it shares with the Hiawatha Line (also Station to DFW Airport, a one-station both places. They now have Sun Rail in known as the “Blue Line”), and has 18 extension. Much of the Orange Line runs the Orlando area and the new Train de stations. The new line operates 24 hours a concurrently with DART’s Green Line l’est line on AMT, the Montreal area’s day, and ends at the newly-renovated St. from downtown Dallas to Bachmann commuter-rail agency. The new line Paul Union Depot (not “station”), which Station, where the segment to the airport began service on December 1st, running hosts Amtrak’s Empire Builder. branches off. The first 9.3 miles of the from Central Station (also the home of 14-mile line opened in 2012. The last VIA Rail in Montreal) to Mascouche, Arizona is not a state known for rail 4.7 miles, which comprise the extension, 52 kilometers (32 miles) away. The new transit, but there is a light rail line in opened on August 18. line has thirteen stations, 10 of which Phoenix, and now Tucson has a streetcar, are new. Most service runs during peak- too. The Sun Link Streetcar, part of the The first new start of the year in Canada commuting hours, with one mid-day train Sun Tran transit system, made its debut opened one week later, on August 25. and one “reverse commute” train on on July 25th. It is 3.9 miles long and runs It is an extension of the C-Train light weekdays, and no service on week-ends. a full-time schedule, primarily serving rail system in Calgary, Alberta. A one- The equipment is the same as on the downtown Tucson and the campus of the station extension of the Northwest Line newest trains on New Jersey Transit, with University of Arizona. The route serves from Crowfoot Station to Tuscany, 2.5 whom AMT shared an order for ALP- Fourth and University avenues between km (slightly more than 1.5 miles) long, 45DP dual-power locomotives (diesel and those areas, as well as the Mercado began service that day. The extension overhead wire) and multilevel coaches District west of downtown Tucson. is the first on the Northwest Line since from Bombardier. The new line is the Transfers are available between Sun Link 2009. The Northeast and Southwest Lines sixth commuter-rail line serving Montreal. and Sun Go buses, and a day pass for the reached their current size in 2012. The (Continued on page 13) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 11 of 16 Two Breakthroughs in Chicago

(Continued from page 4) protracted struggle to create a new Then, on Nov. 9, Metra’s new board under a reform-minded and chairman, Martin Oberman, laid down During negotiations three years ago, politically empowered chairman, Metra the railroad’s case with even more NS refused to commit to a set of new finally has emerged as an organization invigorating candor when he appeared numbers, claiming that by the time that appears responsible, responsive and as the guest of veteran ABC News the new facilities were opened the transparent. public-affairs reporter Alan Krashesky carrier’s growing freight business would on his Sunday-morning interview have absorbed the additional capacity, The proof came in two doses. show. Oberman, a lawyer and veteran effectively leaving this segment of the activist, projected a persona of civic Water Level Route at its status quo In early October, Metra announced responsibility that Chicagoans have not ante. Critics at the time dismissed it would raise fares 10.8% in 2015 associated with Metra management NS claims as self-serving. The Feds, and projected it would raise fares a or governance for many years, if ever. anxious to get iron on the ground total of 68% by 2024, claiming it Equally important, his responses to and passenger trains moving, green- would be fiscally irresponsible to do Krashesky indicated he’s a quick study lighted the funds anyway, and, guess otherwise. Despite a Tribune editorial in railroading. The mechanical and what: Bakken oil traffic, a huge 2013 savaging the hikes, most of which administrative details of moving the grain harvest and surging intermodal would be devoted to operating expenses trains around, getting passengers to growth have pretty much vindicated rather than capital funding of new their destinations on time and doing NS traffic projections that in 2011 equipment, most of the public took everything with both safety and dispatch were labeled fantasy. NS as well as the the news well, probably because the clearly interest him. AAR remain closed-mouth about the new board and new President Don Flyover’s performance. “All of this stuff Orseno had spent the last year or more Watch the Oberman-Krashesky interview is very, very sensitive,” said an official saying and doing all the right things and judge for yourself whether Metra’s who cannot be identified by name or to reposition Metra as a civic rather finally in the right hands: affiliation. than political institution and getting out in front of the issues with lots of http://abc7chicago.com/news/ While the payoff from the Englewood public appearances explaining how newsviews-metra-chairman-martin- Flyover is still subject to observation and they planned to reform the troubled oberman/387319/ analysis, the results of the administrative agency. Unlike the reclusive Pagano, breakthrough at Chicago’s Metra Orseno, a veteran Metra operating F.K. Plous is director of communications at commuter railroad are not in dispute. official, appears frequently on TV, Corridor Capital LLC. After a long and gradual deterioration fields reporters’ questions with skill and under President Phil Pagano that ended candor and projects an aura of friendly with his suicide in 2011 and after a but no-nonsense managerial skills.

Please visit our website, www.railusers.net, for a schedule of 2015 Board meetings.

For more information, contact Richard Rudolph, Chair, at 207-776-4961. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 12 of 16 MTA’s Fulton Center Opens

(Continued from page 3 Still Repairing Damage from diverted to the State’s general fund. As Superstorm Sandy there has been some very visible transit- There will be many stores and restaurants oriented development in the area of the in the Fulton Center, and undoubtedly will After getting the Montague & Greenpoint West Hempstead station, this service is long bring people into the building who aren’t Tubes back, work is commencing in overdue. The West Hempstead branch even taking the various subway lines. This the other under-river tunnels after the serves the communities of West Hempstead, is the largest free-transfer point south of devastation done by Superstorm Sandy. Hempstead Gardens, Lakeview, Malverne Times Square, and is already bustling at The Cranberry Tube has been shut down, and Westwood, connecting to the other all hours. The Fulton Center also includes with A,C trains diverted to the Rutgers branches of the LIRR at Valley Stream. the restoration of the historic Corbin Street Tube on weekends. After work Along with the return of weekend service Building, a landmark which has been on Cranberry is done, F trains will be on the Greenport branch, later seasonal tastefully restored to its original grandeur. diverted to the Cranberry Tube, so that service on the Montauk branch, and the At the opening, many New Yorkers were work may be performed in the Rutgers return of half-hourly weekend service on taking lots of extra time to check the place Street Tube. Fortunately, these tubes the Port Washington branch, most of the out—and those interviewed by various were not damaged nearly as badly as the 2010 service cuts to the LIRR have been television stations had glowing reviews of Montague Tube, and will require shorter restored. And naturally, this has affected the center. Well done! outages. The problem will be when the ridership in a positive way—ridership on Canarsie Tube is repaired, as there are the railroad is up substantially, proving that #7 Extension Opening really no parallel lines, and no place to better service = more riders! Scheduled for February 2015 send the L trains. As this line serves the booming areas of Williamsburg Nostalgia Train Returns for The long-awaited extension of the #7 and Bushwick, additional service will The Holidays! subway line west from Times Square have to supplied by trains and buses. to its new terminus at 11th Ave/34th Once again, New Yorkers and visitors Street is closer to reality. The contractor More Service on Metro-North! to the city can avail themselves of a will receive a bonus if the new station piece of history by riding the nostalgia opens by February 24, 2015. There Riders on the New Haven line of Metro- train along the M line of the subway, was a problem with the new inclined North have reason to celebrate! Off-peak on Sundays only, on December 7, elevators (a first for the NYC Subway), and weekend service on these lines is now 14, 21, and 28. Trains will operate and this delayed the opening somewhat. virtually every half-hour—even from far- between Queens Plaza and the 2nd It is hoped that the problems have been flung areas. There is now half-hourly off- Avenue station, and consist of R1/9 corrected, and we are on schedule for a peak service on the New Haven line, even cars, with ceiling fans, wicker seats, late February opening. There has been from New Haven, CT to Grand Central! and lots of historic advertisements! a tremendous amount of building in As this is the busiest line on Metro- The sight, sound, and smells of the the Hudson Yards area, and this new North, and one of the busiest in the entire R1/9 fleet will bring back many station will serve all the new apartments country, it just makes sense to provide memories—both good and bad. and offices, as well as the Jacob Javits the service people are demanding. And What’s really wonderful is watching Convention Center. The #7 line is one of with the new advanced M8 cars, the New people’s faces as these historic trains the busiest, and is undergoing what seems Haven line is a success story. come rolling into a station! Some endless weekend shutdowns between subway riders have never seen this Queensboro Plaza and Times Square, Weekend Service Resumes on vintage equipment, but for some, as CBTC (communications-based train LIRR West Hempstead Branch! the memories of steamy hot summer control) is being installed in the Steinway days (no A/C), torn hosiery from the Tube, and along the line. This will allow wicker seats and bumpy rides will no Weekend service on the Long Island Rail more frequent service, which is sorely doubt take them back to an earlier Road’s West Hempstead branch has needed on this busy line, which serves resumed, after being slashed due to budget time in our city’s history. the neighborhoods of Flushing, Corona, cuts in June, 2010. Riders welcomed the Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Woodside, return of service, which fell victim to the Andrew Albert is Vice-Chairman of RUN, the Sunnyside, and Long Island City, and hideous budget & service cuts of 2010, Chair of the NYC Transit Riders Council, and brings scores of commuters into Grand when dedicated transportation funds were Riders’ Representative on the MTA Board. Central, 5th Avenue, and Times Square. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 13 of 16 And from New Mexico...

By J.W. Madisom take all practical steps to improve rail freight and rail dormant commercial rail spurs. Their passenger service . . . transportation is an essential ideas run in cute replica-vintage directions, 1) The Southwest Chief governmental function . . . the DOT is authorized to while I for one lean toward modern, enter into an agreement.” smooth and as fast as safety allows. But Following is a hopefully hopeful note they’re at least talking rail, not more concerning New Mexico and the Chief, 2) Transit In Albuquerque rubber-tire pseudo-trolleys. That’s a big sent out by the NM Group of the SW In 2007, a task force was convened to work advance around here. Chief Coalition: I’d like to ask the out a set of transportation improvements As I write this, various meetings are in the NMDOT about this, but they don’t write for our metro area. The agenda items back to me any more. works to discuss the above. If these, or any included good solid basics like re-allocating other, urban rail proposals survive into Thanks to our partners at the Colorado some funds away from auto-related matters actual existence, it will be a revolutionary Rail Passenger Association who were able and toward transit improvements, bike achievment for Albuquerque, one of the last to convert the voluminous studies into paths and better sidewalks. These did not bus-only holdouts among Western cities. downloadable files before New Mexico suffer too badly, but another proposal did. state officials, here is a link to the studies J.W. Madison is president of Rails Inc., based in This was for a modern streetcar line along Albuquerque, NM. released at the recent NM Legislature Central Avenue (old Route 66), the first Interim Transportation Infrastructure phase running between Downtown and New Starts in 2014 Revenue Committee; the UNM / Nob Hill area a couple of (Continued from page 10) http://www.colorail.org/wp/colorail/ miles East.This effort was attacked for resources.php the usual Flat Earth and cliché reasons, At this writing, there are two streetcar lines but some raised reasonable doubts about whose starts have been delayed, and they will The legal study has not been released. However, East Central being the best place to put probably not open for service before the end below is our summary of that study. in our first rail transit line. And some felt of the year. One is the Atlanta Downtown Southwest Chief Rail Service: An Examination that it favored developers in the area at the Streetcar, and the other is the H Street/ of State Authorities and Limitations Pursuant to the expense of long-term connectivity around Benning Road Streetcar in Washington, Constitution of New Mexico. Arthur J. Waskey, the city. Rails Inc and a couple of other task DC. Both will run with “modern” streetcars, Contract Staff Attorney Legislative Council Service force members proposed alternate routes and both were scheduled to begin service this year. There is no definite opening date presented. This study focused in particular on the for this line, routes that would serve more announced for either system, so it is likely “anti-donation” clause in the Constitution that the places people actually go to around here. that both will begin service in early 2015. New Mexico DOT has cited numerous times as And there it lies. preventing state support for the Chief. While 2014 has been a relatively good year A year or two back, yours truly tried to break for new starts, there are several projects Mr. Waskey summarized his findings right at the this blockage loose, especially in the face of whose openings have been delayed until beginning of his presentation by saying that he the BRT juggernaut rolling our way. The next year. In addition to the Atlanta found nothing in the anti-donation clause that would resulting fantasy is the YardBird, a snazzy and Washington, DC streetcars, they prevent the state from financially supporting the modern streetcar shuttle which would connect include the Purple and Green light rail Chief. The clause prohibits donations to private the Alvarado Transportation Center (ATC) at lines in Houston, the First Hill Streetcar enterprise and the cost of railroad construction. First and Central to the Blacksmith Building in Seattle and the extension of the #7 Waskey emphasized that Amtrak is a federally in the old Santa Fe Rail Yard, which yard is subway line to the Javits Center Station charted corporation, funded by the government and finally in the early stages of redevelopment. in New York. In the long run, the pace under Congressional control -- essentially an agency of rail transit expansion may slow down, City Councilor Issac Benton and I walked of the US government and therefore not a private due to continuing budget problems in around the area and came up with a kind enterprise. Supporting the Chief is not a donation: the public sector in this country, coupled in this case Amtrak would have “an obligation” back of bar-napkin sketch, which Lyndon with incoming Republican control in to the state to provide a service. Waskey emphasized Henry and Dave Dobbs (of Light Rail both houses of Congress. In addition, that the NMDOT would have to follow all state Now and Mobility Planning Associates) the Federal Transit Administration is procurement rules in negotiating a contract, including have turned into a concrete proposal, if a encouraging busway projects, rather than a careful determination of costs. The contract would mere proposal can be called “concrete.” new rail starts or expansions. Still, riders include defining the agreement with appropriate About the same time, some Chamber of like rail transit, and we look forward to terms, a termination clause, a recognition of limits Commerce and development regulars have reporting more new starts at the end of on state funding, and that the state be held harmless expressed interest in a future rail trolley next year. in the event the agreement is terminated. According line connecting the ATC with the Old David Peter Alan is Chair of the Lackawanna to Waskey, the NMDOT has a “statutory duty to Town and museum areas, using existing Coalition and a member of the RUN Board. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 14 of 16

The Long Hill Climb of MA’s Gov-Elect

By RichardRudolph from planning to construction. The board for the city. The state and CSX have also Chair, Rail Users’ Network granted $12 million in first year funding to worked to complete bridge work to raise begin program management, early design clearances on the line from the New York The recent election of Charlie Baker, development and environmental permitting, border to Worcester, to allow for double- a moderate Republican. to the with additional awards in succeeding years stacking of full size freight containers. Massachusetts governorship provides an up to the contract limit of $210 million. The MBTA is now running 16 commuter opportunity to reflect on what has been trains in each direction from Worcester and Governor-Elect Baker has also recently accomplished during the Deval Patrick Boston on weekdays and nine on weekends. commented on the contract that the Patrick administration, as well as what may be in administration has recently signed with CNR More recently, Gov. Patrick announced store once the new governor takes charge. Changechun Railways Vehicles, a Chinese an agreement in principle allowing the While Baker is certainly not a protégé of company, to build 284 Red and Orange line Commonwealth to purchase the Knowledge Gov. Scott Walker, who canceled plans subway cars for the MBTA at a cost of $566.6 Corridor rail line between East Northfield and to extend passenger rail service from million at a plant in East Springfield, on the Springfield from Pan Am Southern, a joint Milwaukee to the state capital in Madison, site of a former Westinghouse facility. He venture of Pan Am and Norfolk Southern. WI, or Gov. John Kasich, who canceled called the contract a “good thing” for the state The 49- mile segment of rail is being the 3C passenger rail project in Ohio, at a great price. “Springfield is getting ‘a big upgraded to allow for more efficient passenger there still may be cause for concern. footprint’ and the opportunity to redevelop the and freight service. The restoration includes Already one political commentator has Westinghouse site, with a mega-player that has the replacement of 95,000 rail ties, new suggested that a Baker administration, the financial wherewithal to clean it up and continuously welded rail, new active warning “with its political power base in the make it viable for the 21st century, ” he said. signals, crossing gates at 23 public grade suburbs and exurbs, might have a stronger crossings and the first phase of a new signal default orientation towards highways.” The new Orange line cars will replace the installation. The restoration has been funded current fleet that has an average of 1.5 million Another commentator has suggested, “Baker through a $75-million grant awarded by the miles on them. The order will also increase should rethink what transit expansion means and FRA The project restores the original route of the fleet size, allowing for increased passenger focus on projects that do more with less.” Instead Amtrak’s Vermonter service between St. Albans, capacity and decreased passenger wait times of “sweating mega-projects like the $2.3- billion VT and Washington, DC. The official start up by reducing headways from six minutes to four ,” the impetus should be placed date for the return of the Vermonter is Dec 29. during rush hours. The Red line order will on purchasing a “stack of DMUs” and extend replace the current fleet of No. 1 cars, which The state is also refurbishing MBTA rail cars subway-like service to Lynn, Chelsea, Everett, have an average of 2.3 million miles on them. and locomotives for passenger train service Melrose, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Newton. between Greenfield and Springfield. It is This supposedly would trigger a “huge transit While it is far too early to predict what a Baker expected to be up and running in the next expansion, without laying a foot of new track.” administration will do to further promote couple of years, provided state appropriations Increasing frequency of service on lines that passenger rail in the Commonwealth, it will are available to cover operating costs. already have passenger rail would undoubtedly be difficult to match or exceed the outstanding lead to greater ridership, but it shouldn’t be done record of the outgoing Patrick Administration. Lastly, Massachusetts has also purchased 37 at the expense of riders in Taunton, Fall River Under his leadership, Massachusetts signed a miles of railroad line from Pittsfield to the or New Bedford who have been waiting for historic agreement with CSX, which paved Connecticut border to advance passenger service more than 50 years for the return of passenger the way to expand passenger rail service between the Berkshires and New York City. The rail service. Passenger trains that ran along the between Boston and Worcester. The state agreement includes $12 million to acquire the Stoughton Branch railroad served the South agreed to pay CSX $100 million for 45 miles line from the Housatonic Railroad Company Coast communities until 1959. of the Framingham/Worcester Commuter and $35 million for initial track improvements Rail line, 37 miles of rail lines running south funded by a 2014 transportation Bond Bill To his credit, Baker has said he supports from Taunton to Fall River and New Bedford, approved by the State Legislature. These initial South Coast Rail, but just needs to figure out eight miles of railroad track known as the improvements will allow for passenger rail in how to pay for it. The Patrick administration Grand Junction which runs from Allston, Massachusetts, but the tracks will carry freight recently announced a contract award for the across the Charles River, through Cambridge, until the Connecticut portion is improved. replacement of four bridges in New Bedford Somerville, Charlestown, Everett and Chelsea. and Fall River along the future South Coast Given all of the above, the Patrick administration Rail line. These improvements will not As part of this public-private partnership, certainly deserves a great deal of credit for its only advance this project, but also provide CSX has invested $150 million to upgrade outstanding record of achievement. It remains immediate benefit for active freight service in rail yards in Worcester, Westborough to be seen whether the new governor elect is up the region. In addition, MassDOT’s Board of and West Springfield to expand and to the task—he certainly will have a long hill to Directors in June approved a contract award enhance freight service throughout the climb, given all that the Patrick administration of $210 million over 10 years to the Vanasse Commonwealth, while freeing up an 80- has been able to accomplish over the past eight Hangen Brustlin Corporation. The contract acre parcel (the former Beacon Park Freight years. (Quotes from “Advice for Charlie Baker: officially moved the South Coast Rail project Yard) to serve as a new gateway district Transportation,” Boston Globe, Nov. 21, 2014. RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 15 of 16

He Jumped off the Bus and Ran for the Train!

By Mela Bush-Miles Fairmount!” as well as weekend service to ride. When Mela Bush-Miles made DMUs and new stations. the announcement on the bus of the It was Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, two new service, one man voted with his days after Thanksgiving, when a man Then Victory!! On Oct. 16, 2014, feet! He said when is the next train? jumped out of his seat on the 23 Bus in Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, “Seven minutes and we have some Dorchester, MA and ran down the Four surrounded by MassDot Secretary Rich FREE tickets !” The man took the Corners Geneva train station ramp. Davey, MBTA GM Dr Beverly Scott, ticket said “THANKS!” Ran off the He was excited to take the Fairmount transit advocates and many state and bus and…he RAN for the train! It was “Indigo” Line train for the first time, municipal elected officials announced a long time coming, but what a sweet, ever! Just two stops and five minutes away the start of hourly weekend service on sweet victory! was the busiest mall in the region and he the beginning on Black had planned to do some shopping. He, Friday weekend. In addition, the fare Other victories for weekend rail however, was on the bus and it would pilot that lowered fares along the line include: have taken him another hour, or more, to was made permanent. Also construction travel to the same destination. on the fourth new station is scheduled * The CapeFLYER to Barnstable test to begin in the spring of 2015 and be of weekend seasonal service is now What happened to cause such a completed by December 2017. DMUs permanent dramatic exit from that bus!!? would also roll onto the line in 2017, after * weekend service will over 20 years and for the first time, ever! be restored after being cut in 2012 More than 20 years of advocacy * Kingston/ Plymouth weekend service and organizing, fighting for transit The GFCAC organized a celebration will be restored December 2014 and environmental justice led by the of the start of the weekend service and * Saturday service will Greater Four Corners Action Coalition new riders were attracted to convert be restored December 2014 (GFCAC)and the Fairmount Indigo from the bus to the train, Community Transit Coalition. The people along organizers, MBTA Ambassadors Mela Bush-Miles is a RUN Board member and the Fairmount Line never gave up. and Santa passed out candy canes, Lead Organizer for the Greater Four Corners The people demanded “Fair Fares for schedules and free round trip tickets Action Coalition in Boston. Sampling Utah’s FrontRunner Commuter Rail Service

By Mike Palmer 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, with no too late in the day to line up with any Sunday service. normal commuter patterns. Tickets are On the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 2, checked on a random basis; mine were 2014, I had an opportunity to sample The late evening, every half hour service not checked that night. Utah’s “FrontRunner” commuter train enabled me to take advantage of a round- service. The FrontRunner has one route, trip between Salt Lake Central and The Central Salt Lake platforms were connecting Salt Lake City with Ogden Ogden. (Only a few trains extend north a short distance from the adjacent light and Pleasant View to the north, and to Pleasant View.) The trains adhered to rail line. The Salt Lake City Amtrak Provo to the south.It has its own track, the schedule and were very clean. The station is also nearby; it is open from 10 which was constructed parallel to (but platforms and signage were all in good pm - 5:15 am each night (reflecting the separate from) Union Pacific’s former repair and reasonably well lit at night. scheduled arrival times for the California Denver & Rio Grande Western mainline. The shelters, such as they are, provided Zephyr). Amtrak has its own platform; Much of the line is single-track, though only minimal protection from the cold; it does not use the FrontRunner track. each station had double-track. there are no space heaters that I could There is a limited amount of free see. There are ticket vending machines parking in the area, though the larger Utah Transit Authority identifies its on each platform, but I saw no other parking lot across the street looked a FrontRunner and light rail lines similar to machines (for snacks or refreshments). little run down. The Greyhound station bus lines: each “route” has a number, and The trains were reasonably well was also nearby, it was designated the the individual trains are not numbered. patronized for a weeknight; the travelers “Intermodal Center.” Every FrontRunner is “route 750”. The were a mix of students and families or trains run between approximately 4 a.m. groups. I did not see many business Mike Palmer is a RUN member based in and 1 a.m. Monday through Friday, and people, though my travels were likely Torrrance, CA. Please become a member of RUN… From the run We invite you to become a member of the Rail Users’ Network, which represents rail passengers’ board of interests in North America. RUN is based on the successful British model, which has been serving passengers since 1948. RUN networks passengers, their advocacy organizations, and their advisory directors councils. RUN is working to help secure an interconnected system of rail services that passengers will use with pride. RUN forms a strong, unified voice for intercity, regional/commuter, and transit rail passenger interests. By joining together, sharing information, best practices, and resources through Rail Users’ Network networking, passengers will have a better chance of a vocal and meaningful seat at the decision making Newsletter is table. published quarterly RUN members enjoy newsletters, international conferences, regional rail forums, and other meetings to by the Rail Users’ share information while working to improve and expand rail passenger service. Network, a 501 (c) (3), Membership is open to passengers, official advisory councils, advocacy groups, public agencies, tourist nonprofit corporation. and convention bureaus, carriers and other profit-making organizations. We hope you will join — vital decisions and legislation affecting the North American rail transportation We welcome your system are being made daily. Don’t be left behind at the station! thoughts and comments about our newsletter. Please write to us: RUN, 55 River Road, Steep Falls, ME 04085

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