Rail News June /July 2002009999

www.AllAboardWashington.org

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

President Obama announce s 21 st century high speed rail vision; WSDOT and FRA seek public input for Northwest Corridor projects All of you know [high speed rail] is not sy stem that reduces destructive emis - over 300 miles per hour. So it's being some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky vision of sions and creates jobs. done; it's just not being done here. the future. It is now. It is happening “What we're talking about is a vision “There's no reason why we can't do right now. It’s been happening for for high speed rail in America. Imagine this. This is America. There's no rea- decades. The problem is it’s been boarding a train in the center of a city. son why the future of travel should lie happening elsewhere, not here. No racing to an airport and across a somewhere else beyond our borders. President terminal, no delays, no sitting on the Building a new system of high -speed tarmac, no lost luggage, no taking off rail in America will be faster, cheaper On April 16, Pres. Obama – joined your shoes. Imagine whisking through and easier than building more freeways by Vice President and towns at speeds over 100 miles an or adding to an already overburdened USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood – pre- hour, walking only a few steps to public aviat ion system – and everybody sented his Administration’s Vision for transportation, and ending up just stands to benefit. High Speed Rail in America. The plan blocks from your destination. Imagine “T hat's why today, with the help of includes $8 bill. in investment provided what a great project that would be to Secretary LaHood and Vice President by the Recovery Act and an additional Biden, America's number one rail fan, $1 bill. over each of the next five years. I've been told , I'm announcing my ad- The president acknowledged this is ministration's efforts to transform travel only a down payment on our country’s in America with an historic investment HSR plans. in high speed rail. Here are some of the president’s “O ur strategy has two parts: improv - remarks: ing our existing rail lines to make cur - “The Recovery and Reinvestment rent train service faster [and] also iden- Plan we passed not two months ago tifying potential corridors for the crea - included the most sweeping investment President Barack Obama, flanked by tion of world -class high-speed rail. To in our infrastructure since President Vice President Joe Biden, on left, and make this happen , we've already dedi- Eisenhower built the Interstate High- USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood, pre - cated $8 billion of Recovery and Rein - way System in the 1950s. And these sented his Administration’s vision for vestment Act funds to this initiative, efforts will save money by untangling the development of high speed rail in and I've requested another $5 billion gridlock and saving lives by improving the United States at an April 16 press over the next five years. our roads.... conference. Photo by Scott Bernstein, www.cnt.org “The Department of Transportation “We also have to build a new foun- expects to begin awarding funds to dation for our future growth. Today, our rebuild America. ready projects before the end of this aging system of highways and byways, “In France, high-speed rail has summer, well ahead of schedule. And air routes and rail lines is hindering that pulled regions from isolation, ignited like all funding decisions under the growth. Our highways are clogged with growth, remade quiet towns into thriv - Recovery Act, money will be distributed traffic, costing us $80 billion a year in ing tourist destinations. In Spain, a based on merit …. lost productivity and wasted fuel. Our high -speed line between Madrid and “T his plan is realistic ….We're not airports are choked with increased Seville is so successful that mo re talking about starting from scratch, loads….We're at the mercy of fluctu- people travel between those cities by we're talking about using existing ating gas prices all too often; we pump rail than by car and airplane combined. infrastructure to increase speeds on too many greenhouse gases into the China, where service began just two some routes from 70 miles an hour to air. years ago, may have more miles of over 100 miles per hour – so you're “What we need, then, is a smart high -speed rail service than any other taking existing rail lines, you're upgrad - transportation system equal to the country just five years from now. And ing them. And many cor ridors merit needs of the 21st century. A system Japan, the nation that unvei led the first even faster service, but this is the first that reduces travel times and increases high -speed rail system, is already at step that is quickly achievable …. mobility. A system that reduces con- work building the next: a line that will “The next step is investing in high gestion and boosts productivity. A connect Tokyo with Osaka at speeds of (See Obama, page 4) page 2 Participating were Sen. Mary Margaret for us as we continue in our quest to save From the desk of Haugen (D-Camano Island), Rep. Judy the now bifurcated Eastside Line for future the Executive Clibborn (D-Mercer Island), WSDOT Sec- commuter rail. retary Paula Hammond and (by video) US Among other things, we found the costs Director Sen . Patty Murray (D). All were enthusiasti- estimated by independent rail consultants bybyby cally supportive of increased passenger hired by Cascadia were similar to those in Lloyd H. Flem train service for our Northwest Corridor and Marin-Sonoma and much less than those of Wa shington State getting its slice of the the Puget Sound Regional Council and Federal ARRA "Stimulus" money. Sound Transit came up with. First: A couple of requests; Rail Week; In Portland, US Rep. Peter DeFazio (D- John and Andy spoke to very supportive au - Gov. Gregoire, meet Gov. Doyle OR) issued essentially a coach's pep talk diences in the communities of Woodinville and Sno - Last November I received a generous about a passenger train future fully sup - homish. J Craig Thorpe's paintings explicitly illu - donation to AAWA from the Chehalis Indian ported by an Administration for the first time strated "what can be" for trains and pathways on the Nation in the form of a one-night stay since Abraham Lin coln. (Is there something Eastside Line, if we can learn from the experience of voucher in a Family Suite at the Great Wolf about tall, slim, but athletic men from these folks who successfully dealt with an analogous Lodge, a family-oriented resort and water that makes for a pro -passenger-train situation. Thanks to AAWA's Loren Herrigstad and park (NOT a casino). The donation certifi- president?!) C.B. Hall for making initial contact with the Califor- cate arrived after our meeting and annual AAWA’s Ron Sheck, PhD Geography, nians. silent auction at Tacoma's Freighthouse gave an excellent Thursday evening pres - ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ Square. Water park rides and other "fun entation on high speed rail in Europe. (After stuff" are included. Meals are extra. hearing Ron and Marilyn are moving to The Lodge is located 17 miles south of Ohio, I’m a fraid I was badly outvoted by Olympia, I-5 Exit 88. July 19 through Au- Ron's family when I objected to the Sheck's gust 22 and Labor Day weekend are upcoming relocation! Ron has been a "blackout dates" for which the Voucher is strong and steady force for passenger not valid. The Voucher is valid most other trains during his years in our state. Now dates through November 11. Ohio will benefit from Ron's knowledge, ex- The retail value is over $200. Bids (by perience and dedication. Thanks for your phone or email to me) will start with a $75 work here, Ron .) minimum. Bidding closes June 30. Other sessions included representatives Former long-time executive of ports and BNSF and U P sharing their Pictured at Olympia/Lacey’s Centennial Station Steve Roberts phoned me asking for infor- views on passenger and freight t rains on April 29 are Ralph Munro, former Secretary mation about the "cause of origin" of Am- sharing tracks. UP is now beginning to join of State; Jose -Maria Oriol, Talgo CEO-Madrid; trak's original (1977) Seattle-Denver- BNSF in taking the pragmatic position that Antonio Perez, Talgo America CEO – Seattle; Chicago . Roberts now works for living with public -supported passenger train Paula Hammond, WSDOT Secretary; Wilbur Smith Associates, a major rail con- service and the investments they bring to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle; Lloyd Flem; and sultant, and is assigned to look into restora- railroad infrastructure calls for coo peration, Nora Friend , Talgo America Vice President – tion of the Pioneer . He believes it might not simply opposition. Marketing. Photo by Darlene Austin have originated as result of Congressional Other meetings featured representatives On 29 April, I was privileged to meet Wisconsin request, perhaps from former Oregon Gov. of rail equipment manufacturers, including Gov. Jim Doy le (D) at Centennial Station. Talgo ex - and US Sen. Mark Hatfield. Roberts’ phone Antonio Perez of Talgo. ecutives had arranged for the very pro -passenger rail number is 925-689-0813. Please phone him Present at several meetings was former governor and his equally pro -rail WisDOT chief Frank or me if you have any insights. Secretary of State Ralph Munro (R). Busalacchi to meet with our Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ Ralph’s long-time and continuous support and WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond. The Talgo While AAWA was well represented at for our rail progr am has been of great people, aware AAWA (then WashARP) and former the 27 May Rail Stakeholder Meeting and importance . Secretary of State Ralph Munro had been instru - FRA Rail Workshop (see separate story), An enjoyable field trip by Amtrak Cas- mental in advocating for our original Amtrak Cas- many AAWA members, including officers cades to Portland featured a ride on the cades in the 1990s, wanted Ralph and I to have the and board members participated in the new Westside Express Service, a Diesel opportunity to meet the governor of a state, which Cascadia Institute's three day "Rail Week" Multiple Unit commuter train which serve s like Washington, has made serious investments in 27-29 May in Seattle, Portland, and on suburbs sou thwest of Portland. their intercity passenger rail program. Unfortunately, trains between and around. For those The FRA people were properly im- the photo does not include Busalacchi, whose advo - wanting a summary of the events, I will pressed with not only our statewide elec - cacy for Federal passenger rail investments has been have same in written form and will do a re- teds, but mayors and council people from exemplary. port at the AAWA meeting in Vancouver, up and down the corridor. Notably present ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ WA on Saturday 13 June. for one or more days were the mayors of Hopefully, many of you will attend the AAWA Cascadia Director Bruce Agnew (also Vancouver , BC, Vancouver, WA, Portland meeting at Little Italy’s Trattatoria in Vancouver, WA longtime AAWA member) and his staff put and Bellingham, as well as AAWA Board on 13 June. While Dan McFarling of AORTA will together an intensive program, full of in- member and Mayor Rob Eaton, whose present their view on the proposed trans -Columbia fluential speakers, attended by many im- Leavenworth Amtrak station project is now River "mega-bridge," of equal importance will be ad - portant public decision-makers, and left me finally underway. vances in cooperation between AAWA and AORTA. increasingly confident that it is a New World An important part of the three-day con- In addition, in response to requests to reformalize for passenger trains in the US, that the ference was having John Nemeth and Andy AAWA "work groups" and continue the trend of get - State of Washington will continue to pursue Peri of Marin and Sonoma counties, north - ting more members involved in the multi -faceted and more passenger rail service, and that our ern s uburbs of San Francisco, show how multi-skilled world of rail advocacy, meeting atten - state's well-earned piece of the unprece- close cooperation among rail advocates, bi - dees will have the opportunity to sign on to help dentedly (but still just a "good start") Fed- cycle interest groups and others resulted in move rail forward in our Northwest. The restaurant eral financial commitment will come a 70% election win last November to fund a needs a count, please RSVP to me or Jim Hamre by through. 71 -mile rail and trail corridor. Many lessons June 10. See you in Vancouver on the 13th! page 3 In a past column I referred to the fact that users did , but who gets to decide who drives in them? This The View of a particular freeway paid only 10% of the actual snappy answer is explained above. cost of the facili ty. This is if the lanes are built for 4) Donor states/Receiver states, Donor coun - Down the “congestion relief.” ties/Receiver counties, Donor subareas/Receiver Tracks Ten percent actually is the ratio of what it costs subareas??? There are no Subarea Equity rules in to provide a freeway lane versus the number of place for the gas tax. ======people who use the new lane. If you go back to my 5) I didn’t vote for light rail, why should I have to with Jim Cusick example of creating a new set of lanes to provid e pay for it? I didn’t vote for the gas tax, either. Fifty Cents congestion relief for those on the freeway and 6) Light Rail is expensive. So are urban free- Here we go again. Now that President Obama’s charging a toll to “make it pay for itself,” you will only ways (and so was the monorail , as we found out). high speed rail stimulus plan is gaining traction, out be able to siphon off the excess drivers from the 7) Mass Transit projects don’t reduce congestion. of the woodwork come the critics. Well, maybe not so commute hours. Answe r #1) Yes they do, but not as much as a out of the woodwork, because this critic is one we If you are happy with the way congestion is now, new freeway lane would (surprised?); Answer #2) know and love. In the Opinion section of the May 20th the ratio of who pays for what is more like 30%. Neither does a freeway lane. USA Today, our old friend Randall O’Toole give his If we want people who pay the gas tax to actually 8) Two freeway lanes can handle 65,000 ve - usual (repeat performance) diatribe against anything pay for the urban freeway, then it would have to re- hicles per day, more than any rail system’s daily ri - rail (“A high-speed rail mirage”). main congested roughly 10 hours a day. And that’s dership . That’s true. So if they’re so effic ient, I’ll come back to that in a moment. only if you figure there is hardly anyone driving in the what’s the problem? This is also explained above. But first, I think it would be important if I get my midnight through 5 AM time fra me. If you spread out The freeways operate at about half their capacity and readers to repeat after me…“Fifty Cents”…“Fifty the cars to have an uncongested freeway, then you even then we whine about congestion. Cents”…“Fiiiiiifty Cents.” could cover the cost even with the slack time. How - 9) Build it and they will come (freeways). What This will bring you peace. This will bring har- ever, there had better be cars filling up the lanes to that should really be is: “Build it and it will fill up mony. This will console your psyche. Most impor- their uncongested (45 mph/2100 vph) limit for ap - so qu ickly because it handles such a small tantly, when you chant this at the right time, you will proximately 20 hours a day. amount each hour.” gain the attention and respect of those around you. Heck, we’re having a cow when SR 520 is only 10) I see buses running almost empty most of You don’t just want to blurt this out, completely congested for 6 hours a day. the time. I see almost empty freeway lanes a ma - out of context. You have to wait for the right moment Which brings us back to Randall O’Toole. jority of the day. to enlighten the unenlightened. I know we like to demonize people such as him, 11) Transit is subsidized. Roads are When to say this? but they do provide a useful purpose. They keep us subsidized. Whenever anyone is attempting to compare the on our toes. Our only job is to be sure tha t we don’t 12) The gas tax is a user fee. The gas tax is an cost of train travel to driving. get bogged down in the minutiae. excise tax on a commodity. A toll is a user fee. In my last column I went over the real costs, but In the article he states “Interstates paid for them- I hope these snappy answers are useful, but if you spout out precise figures then it just causes selves out of gas taxes and most Americans use truth be told, I had to get a bit more detailed in my eye glaze over. The reason you want to say “Fifty them almost every day.” Non gas tax money was email to Dave in order to back up these claims. used to begin highway construction, and he com - Cents” is because it’s easy! In my next column, I don’t plan to get into mor e There are still many articles, some with even a pletely ignores the money from other funding sources that go into maintaining them. The State Patrol in detail with these snappy answers. positive message concerning rail travel, where they “Why NOT?” you ask. make travel comparisons by noting only the cost of particular. Is he lying? Is he playing a semantics game? I will be celebrating! gas in their calculations. Because by the next newsletter Sound Transit’s If you encounter someone who makes that mis- Who knows? The point is, I see these arguments presented Central Link will have opened. Yahoo!! take, just say in a quiet, reasoned tone…“Fifty Sound Transit will have a revised Sounder sche- Cents.” time and time again. So, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to set the record straight. As Vladimir dule, which will allow someone to commute from the Of course, at that point they will ask you “What north end (Everett, Mukilteo, Edmonds) down to the the heck are you talking about?” Lenin said once “A lie, told often enough, will even - tually become the truth.” south end Sounder stations This you can actually do I know AAA has a slightly higher figure, but use now. $.50 because…The Math Is Simple! Snappy Answers However, the revised schedule will allow you to Whatever the distance they are traveling, the At a conference hosted by Dave Ross a few make the return trip north, by taking one of the cost per mile is half of that. years ago, I stood up to make my point and, in reverse commute trains that will get you to Seattle in If they are going to a destination 100 miles away painting the picture, it took me into a detailed time to catch a north end Sounder. Yahoo!! Yahoo!! and returning, then calculating the cost of driving is explanation. And the second train will actually get to Vancou - simple – $100 for the 200 mile roundtrip. At that point he stopped me and said “By now, ver, BC! YAHOO!! Roughly, that’s the distance from Seattle to Bel- most of my listeners have tuned out.” Okay, I’m getting carried away, I have NO IDEA lingham and back. So when someone is comparing It was frustrating because there is no real way to when that will happen, save for the time right around the cost of driving to taking the train, then 100 make transportation arguments without delving into the Olympics. smackers is the cost to drive. A round trip fare on the some detail. Speaking o f which, the rhetoric north of the bor- (at the highest fare, mind you) is Everything cannot be meaningfully distilled down der concerning the lack of movement by the Cana - $64. to a one sentence sound -bite. dian Border Security Agency and the federal and In pricing fares for rail travel, those who calculate What it got me thinking about, though, was ex- provincial governments is heating up. There are the price point have to deal with more of people’s actly how to do that. many editorials in the papers north of the border in perception of cost, than what is reality. If tolls were What I came up with I sent him in an email titled support of this trai n. I just hope there is a way for our collected for road travel, then rail systems could price “Snappy Answers to Mobility Questions.” friends up there to put some muscle into it. their fares at more realistic levels. I think they’re pretty snappy; they certainly are Personally, I think that since the Vancouver Ca - So, don’t be afraid to give your… true but the problem is to be credible they still need nucks aren’t in the Stanley Cup finals, the players Two Cents explanations. could stay in shape by “persuading” their appropriate Two…Two…Twooooooooooooo… 1) It’s simple…It’s obvious…Common sense… government officials to “get off the stick” and get that Two cents per mile, the cost of the gas tax if you No, it isn’t! second train into the station! had to pay a toll per mile for the amount of gas you 2) Building transit is “social engineering”. So is Stay tuned, and don’t forget to “Keep your stick burn. building roads. on the ice!” 3) I paid for those lanes. No, you didn’t …we all page 4 made….But if we followed that rationale, Obama, from page 1 we'd have no infrastructure at all. speed rail that unleashes the economic “There are those who say, well, this potential of all our regions by shrinking investment is too small. But this is just a distances within our regions. There are at first step. We know that this is going to least 10 major corridors in the United be a long -term project. But us getting States of 100 to 600 miles in length with started now, us moving the process for - the potential for successful high speed ward and getting people to imagine rail systems. And these areas have ex- what's possible, and putting resources plored its potential impact on their long- behind it so that people can start seeing term growth and competitivness, and examples of this around the country, WSDOT’s Scott Witt, left, and ODOT’s they've already presented sound plans. I that's going to spur a ll kinds of activity. Kelly Taylor make their presentation want to be clear: No decision about “Finally, there are those who say at a during the morning s ession of the High where to allocate funds has yet been time of crisis, we shouldn't be pursuing Speed Rail Workshop. Looking on are made, and any region can step up, pre- such a strategy; we've got too many Paul Nissenbaum from FRA and Ste- sent a plan and be considered. other things to do. But our history teach - phen Gardner from Amtrak. “The high-speed rail corridors we've Photo by Warren Yee es us a different lesson .…President Lin- identified so far would connect areas like coln was committed to a nation conne ct- the cities of the Pacific Northwest; south- Workshop (at a SeaTac Airport hotel, of ed from East to West [by rail], even at the ern and central Florida; the Gulf Coast to all places!). All Aboard Washington was same time he was trying to hold North the Southeast to our nation's capital; the represented at the event by Harvey Bo - and South together. He was in the middle breadth of Pennsylvania and New York to wen, Mike Skehan, Carl Jackson and of a Civil War. While fighting raged on the cities of New England; and something Warren Yee. one side of the continent, tens of thou - close to my heart, a central hub network In the morning, WSDOT’s Scot t Witt, sands of Americans from all walks of life that draws the cities of our industrial Rail and Marine Office director, and came tog ether on the other [to build a heartland closer to Chicago and one ODOT’s Kelly Taylor, Rail Division ad - railroad] ….And eventually, those two sets another. ministrator, hosted a session on the cur - of tracks met.” “Or California, where voters have rent and future status of the Pacific Earlier Vice President Joe Biden and already chosen to move forward with Northwest Rail Corridor and the Amtrak USDOT Secretary Ray LaHood also their own high-speed rail system, a sys- Cascades service. Discussion included: made comments. • tem of new stations and 220 mile per The over one three quarter billion Biden said, “I'm more happy than you dollars already invested by the public hour trains that links big cities to inland can imagine to talk about a commitment in Oregon and Washington to pro - towns; that alleviates crippling congestion that, with the President's leadership, vide expanded intercity and com - on highways and at airports; and that we're making to achieve the goal through muter rail service on BNSF and UP makes travel from San Francisco to Los the development of high -speed rail pro- mainlines, with little support to date Angeles possible in two and a half hours. jects that will extend eventually all across from the federal government. “By making investments across the this nation. And most of you know that • The mid -range and long-range plans country, we'll lay a new foundation for our not only means an awful lot to me, but I for expansion of Cascades service. economic competitiveness and contribute know a lot of you personally in this audi- • The strong partnership between to smart urban and rural growth. We'll ence over the years, I know it means WSDOT, ODOT, British Columbia, create highly-skilled construction and equally as much to you….It's about time Amtrak, BNSF, UP and Sound Tran - operating jobs that can't be outsourced, we took those railways and made them sit that has made the existing service and generate demand for technology that levels possible. the national treasures they should be. gives a new generation of innovators and • How the partnership plans to seek They're the best way to reconnect and entrepreneurs the opportunity to step up th e Northwest’s fair share of the connect communities to each other to and lead the way in the 21st century. HSR funds made available through move us all forward in the 21st century.” We'll move to cleaner energy and a the Recovery Act and the addi tional LaHood (a former Republican Con- cleaner environ-ment, we'll reduce our funds to be made available over the gressman from Illinois) said, “High Speed need for foreign oil by millions of barrels next five years. Rail will be one of the legacies of the a year, and eliminate more than 6 billion The afternoon session was hosted by Karen Obama Administration – their transporta- pounds of carbon dioxide emissions Rae, FRA deputy administrator. The FRA provided tion legacy.” annually – equal to removing 1 million an overview of the High Speed Rail Strategic Plan NARP President Ross Capon was cars from our roads. and how the agency would implement the plan. among the invited guests at the presenta- “I know that this vision has its critics. Amtrak’s Stephen Gardner, vice president, Policy tion in the Eisenhower Executive Office There are those who say high-speed rail and Development, provided a national Amtrak Building next to the White House. The is a fantasy -- but its success around the perspective. Scott Witt and Kelly Taylor presented vice president thanked NARP and other world says otherwise. I know Americans our plans for the Northwest Rail Corridor to FRA. advocates and state and local officials love their cars, and nobody is talking There was a breakout session where the partici - present for their years advoc acy. about replacing the automobile and our pants got together in small groups to discussion The “Vision” is available at www.fra.dot.gov/ the high speed rail plans and provide input to FRA. highways as critical parts of our transpor- us/content/31 and complete remarks by Obama tation system….But this is something that and Biden are available at www.whitehouse.gov/ AAWA representatives asked questions and can be done, has been done and can blog/09/04/16/A -Vision-for-High-Speed-Rail/ provided comments during question and answer provide us enormous benefits. On Wednesday May 27, WSDOT, sessions, and we also participated in the afternoon “There are those who argue that if an Oregon DOT and the Federal Highway breakout session. We reiterated the local and investment doesn't directly benefit the Adminis tration (FRA) hosted a High state money invested already and the partnerships people of their district, then it shouldn't be Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail that have made possible our progress to date. page 5

Scenes from National Train Day Washington and Oregon are celebrating the 10th The second annual National Train was anniversary of the Amtrak Cascades, our signature celebrated on May 9 around the country. Amtrak high-speed ra il corridor service. This international started National Train Day last year to commemorate corridor serves not only Washington and Oregon, but the May 10, 1869 completion of the first also Vancouver, British Columbia, and Canada. transcontinental railroad at Promontory, Utah. Here Growing through state and federal investment, this are some scenes of from events in the Northwest. All services has carried more than six million passengers Aboard Washington hosted or participated in events over the last 10 years, and has shown an 82% in - in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Kelso. NARP crease in ridership since 1998. In 2008, ridership member Michael Ackley helped put together an event reached nearly 775,000 passengers, the most suc - Michael Ackley, left, hosts the NARP table in Missoula, MT, a city without Amtrak service since cessful year in the history of the service. In Novem - in Missoula, where over 700 signatures 1979, and several thousand people turned out! In ber 2008, the on -time performance of the Amtrak were collected to support restored passen - Portland, over 5000 showed up for an event that Cascades reached a fi ve-year high of 81.7%. ger train service to southern Montana. featured Southern Pacific locomotive 4449. This Amtrak Cascades services has grown to four locomotive pulled the Freedom Train across the daily round-trips between Portland and Seattle, with country to celebrate the bicentennial in 1976. connecting service between Portland and Eugene and between Bellingham and Seattle. The service also includes one daily round trip between Seattle and Vancouver, wit h a second trip to be inaugurated before the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. The Cascades service reduces traffic congestion, pro - vides transportation options, creates jobs, and pro- vides other economic benefits from the money s pent by users upon reaching their destinations. Between 1994 -2007, $782.5 million has been Photo by Warren Yee spent on the Amtrak Cascades rail line, safety and Hosting our table in Seattle were, from left, station improvements by Amtrak, Burlington Northern Jim Cusick and Harvey Bowen. Also assist- Santa Fe Railway, United States federal funding ing we re Kathy Davis, George Barner, Rob sources, a regional public transit entity known as Eaton and Lloyd Flem. Sound Transit, localities, and the states of Washing - ton and Oregon. In March 2007, the Province of Brit- ish Columbia, BNSF Railway and Amtrak agreed to fund $9.4 million in track and signal investments in Canada as part of the development of the second daily round trip between Seattle and Vancouver. The Photo by Ron Schauer Amtrak Cascades has been and continues to be a All Aboard Washington display at the Kelso great example of how public -private partnerships and Station. Ron and Pat Schauer and Tedine regionally-based investment can produce a premiere Roos hosted our table. passenger high -speed rail corridor. Washington State, Oregon, and Amtrak have Hosting at Olympia’s Centennial Station Photo by Jim Hamre contributed $316.4 million in operating support to the were Rich DeGarmo, Karen Keller, Marie Zack Willhoite talks with a prospective Cascades – bringing the total regional investment Lewis and Loren Herrigstad. member at the . since 1994 to $1.1 bil lion. Because of the region's long history of meaningful incremental investments in Governors Chris Gregoire (D-WA) and Ted Kulongoski (D -OR) sent the following the corridor, federal funds invested to sustain and letter t o USDOT Sec. Ray LaHood on May 11, 2009 : improve the system are greatly leve raged. Because We write to applaud the bold vision and federal funding commitment of this Administration to support the the Cascades service has planned well for the future, existing and planned high-speed rail system in the United States. The $8 billion for high -speed and intercity both mid and long range projects have been identi - rail investments made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA), further sup- fied and fe deral funds will be invested in projects that ported by the Administration's budget propo sal to provide $1 billion annually for FY 2010 through FY 2014 are ready to proceed. for high-speed rail development, are important infrastructure investments that will improve mobility, create As you develop the Department's strategic plan and preserve jobs, and benefit air quality across our country. (continued next column) (See Governors , page 6)

All Aboard Washington Officers Important Addresses and Phone Numbers Loren Herrigstad, Centralia..President ...... 360 736 -5783 ... [email protected] U. S. House of Representatives: Jim Hamre, Puyallup..Vice President ...... 253 848 -2473 ... [email protected] Washington, DC 20515 Rocky Shay, Federal Way..Secretary ...... 253 925 -2085 ... [email protected] U. S. Senate: Washington, DC 20510 Harvey Bowen, Seattle..Treasurer ...... 206 322 -2729 ... [email protected] Capitol Switchboard (all members): 202 224-3121

State Legislature: State Capitol, Olympia 98504 Lloyd Flem, Olympia.. Hotline for leaving messages: 800 562 -6000 Executive Director ...... 360 943 -8333 ... [email protected] Office FAX ...... 360 943 -0136 Amtrak Reservations/Information: 800 872 -7245 Address ...... 3704 22 nd Ave SE, Olympia 98501 All Aboard Washington: AllAboardWashington.org Jim Hamre, Puyallup..Newsletter Editor ..... 253 848 -2473 ... [email protected] NARP: www.narprail.org Warren Yee, Seattle..E-newsletter ...... 206 723 -0259 ... [email protected] NARP Hotline: www.narprail.org/cms/index.php/hotline/ Amtrak: www.amtrak.com All are evening numbers, except Lloyd's, which is available 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. Amtrak Cascades: www.amtrakcascades.com Sound Transit: www.sound transit.org page 6 All Aboard Washington received the Governors, from page 5 All Aboard News following note from board member Ron for high-speed rail, we ask that you consider applying Sheck. Ron has been active in AAWA since the following criteria to evaluate projects proposed for August 8: All Aboard Washington he moved to Seattle. Most recently, he ARRA or other funding, prioritizing projects that: meeting at noon at Jim Hamre’s worked for WSDOT, managing the King St. Expand and improve existing successful high- th Station project and acting as the DOT rail home, 13307 104 Ave. Ct. E. on speed rail service; Demonstrate substantial public liaison to Sound Transit. Puyallup’s South Hill. Bring a pot- benefits, including advancing environmental climate I am resigning my position on the Board change goals, energy savings and congestion reduc- luck item. Hamburgers and beve- of Directors of All Aboard Washington. Mar- tion, particularly in areas adjacent to Interstate high- rages provided. Call or email Jim ilyn and I are moving to Ohio to be closer to way systems to provide travel options along with job kids and grandkids. Three of the four sets for more information. See p. 5. We creation; Reward the efforts of States that have dem- are nearby in Toledo, Dayton and Pitts- will have railroadiana merchandise onstrated prior support for a high-speed rail programs burgh. The other set is in Phoenix where on a State, regional and local level with a track record donated by several All Aboard we can escape the cold and snow of north- of positive growth in terms of service and ridership; Washington member for sale as a ern winters. That and other family and Build on community support for high-speed rail ser- fund raiser. Bring your cash or friends on the West Coast will provide the vice and expansion; and, Complete program-level opportunity for a lot of train travel. checkbook. ready to implement and construct projects. It has been a rewarding experience to We urge the Department to develop a strategic All Aboard Washington welcomed the fol- be part of AAWA and WashARP. It is an plan for inter-city and high speed rail that supports lowing new members in April and May: Bob exciting time for rail with the new federal existing corridors with proven track records of suc- & Marlene Schweighardt, Kennewick; policy shift backed by money. I think we are cessful service to the public and that builds upon Richard Crossland, Seattle; Norm & Marilyn just seeing the tip of the iceberg. I only prior effort and investment. These criteria will focus Ward, Seattle; David Anderson, Seattle; hope that WSDOT and the governor are on federal support and investments to high speed rail and Walter Murry, Olympia. top of things to get a fair share of stimulus corridors that will maximize the benefit to the nation. money. And hopefully we will see a return All Aboard Washington members contri- We will finalize our priority list of projects sup- of the Pioneer and some new east-west buting to this newsletter include Zack Will- porting our Amtrak Cascades Mid-Range and Long- service. As a starter, there should be a day hoite, Warren Yee, Harvey Bowen, Mike Range Plans once the Federal Rail Agency applica- train on the Empire Builder route to Lea- Skehan, Barry Green, Lloyd Flem, Ron tion guidance and other regulations have been de- venworth, Wenatchee and Spokane and a Schauer, Ron Sheck, Mark Meyer, Darlene veloped. We look forward to working with you and the twice daily service from Seattle to Ellens- Austin and Jim Cusick. President on building a high-speed rail network that burg, Yakima and the Tri Cities. Of course If you haven’t responded to our member will move our transportation infrastructure into the 13 roundtrips to Portland and four to Van- survey and fundraising letter, it’s not too 21st century. couver, BC are top priority. late. We’re still accepting your comments AAWA needs to be pushing for comple- (and extra contributions). Our advocacy All Aboard Washington member Mark Meyer recently tion of . The City will get never stops, even though we are now drove through Sandpoint, ID and discovered Amtrak the job done, but it is important for AAWA to moving more toward the offense now that is planning to move from its downtown station to one ensure that the final outcome is a train sta- the federal government is finally stepping out in the middle of nowhere because Idaho DOT is tion, not offices or collection of shops. up to the plate. cramming a bypass road between the building and I look back on a career that has allowed Sand Creek. Somehow Amtrak feels getting a paved Do you want to be greener, save All Aboard me to contribute to a lot of rail and transit driveway and parking lot is inferior to the cratered dirt Washington money and get your newsletter across the country: the New Mexico Rail facilities currently existing. Amtrak appears to not be sooner (with color pictures)? Send your Runner; the Tampa Streetcar and Tampa standing up to IDOT and demanding it be made email address to Warren Yee (see p. 5) and ; TriRail in South Florida; Link whole after construction. Few in town are aware of we’ll start sending you Washington Rail Light Rail and Sounder; King Street Station; this, including members of the city council. Mark is News as a PDF every two months in lieu and others. I am grateful for having had the working this issue with local citizens and politicians. of a paper copy. opportunity. I will stay in touch.

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