NEWSLETTER Spring 2016 Vol. 13, Issue 2 Will Privatization Save The Northeast Corridor? Individual By Richard J. Arena Transportation Bill, known as the NEC infrastructure is Highlights the FAST (“Fixing America’s a millstone. If full annual The Northeast Corridor is an Surface Transportation”) Act, maintenance and state-of-good- expensive piece of real estate, the major changes were to repair costs (estimated to be in snaking along the coast from reauthorize Amtrak and to excess of $2 billion/year) were Boston to Washington, DC. split Amtrak into two separate included in Amtrak’s NEC profit Rail Commuting in While less than 2% of America’s financial accounts—the and loss statement (which they Ventura County p. 2 land mass, it is home to over 50 Northeast Corridor (NEC) and cannot because they are capital), million residents and responsible the National Network (NN). the net result would be an NEC Brooklyn-Queens for 20% of the nation’s GDP. The purpose for this split was loss in the billions. Light Rail? p. 3 Every day over 2,000 trains from to keep the “profits” from NEC Amtrak, commuter rail agencies, operations there, and not use Second concern: FAST does not and freight lines share the tracks, them to subsidize losses on NN differentiate between operating VIA Rail and Canadians’ making it the world’s busiest trains. Simple? Not quite. expenses and infrastructure Mobility Needs p. 4 rail corridor. Plans have been costs. Clearly, a much preferred proposed to upgrade the NEC First concern: Amtrak’s NEC outcome would have been Enhancing Hoosier to true high speed rail, but there does not actually realize a separating Amtrak into three State Service p. 6 is not enough funding even for profit. While the trains may financial accounts: NN, maintenance. Is there a solution? make money on operations, NEC Operations, and NEC often called “above-the-rail,” Infrastructure. RUN Statements on Perhaps. In the latest Surface the capital cost of maintaining (Continued on page 8) NEC, Amtrak’s On-Time Performance p. 9 It’s Time to Register!!! By Richard Rudolph, Ph.D. improving the quality and level Manager of the MBTA; Gerald RUN to Boston! p. 11 Chair, Rail Users’ Network of services currently provided. Francis, General Manager, Keolis Commuter Rail Amtrak’s Florida “Who’s Looking Out for You? Thanks to the generosity of Services; Stephanie Pollack, Service p. 12 The State of Rail Advocacy in our sponsor, the event is free Massachusetts Secretary of New England” conference is and open to the public. People Transportation; and Rina taking place Friday, April 29, planning to attend, however, Cutler, Amtrak’s Senior New Rail Starts 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 need to register in advance on Director for Major Station In 2015 p. 14 p.m. at the Boston Foundation, the RUN website (railusers.net), Planning and Development. 75 Arlington St., 10th floor in for the conference room can Boston. Sponsored by the Rail only accommodate 75 people. Mr. Depaola will provide an Users’ Network, this regional update on MBTA services conference will examine The day will begin with brief including the purchase of new current actions in New England remarks from Richard Rudolph, cars for both the Red and regarding passenger rail/transit RUN Chair; and Paul Grogan, Orange Lines, the latest plans issues. The focus will also be President and CEO of the for extending service on the on how transit/commuter rail Boston Foundation (invited). Green Line to Somerville and riders can have a greater voice in Featured speakers include Medford and proposed fare planning new services, as well as Frank DePaola, the General (Continued on page 10) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 2 of 16 Rail Commuting Between Ventura County and Santa Barbara an Impending Reality, Thanks to Stalwart Activists and Officials By Dana Gabbard Dennis Story of Coastal Rail Now, the to make the schedule change a reality final recommendations approved by the (Union Pacific, Metrolink, Amtrak, the Savvy rail advocates are far too familiar SBCAG Board in October 2005 included California Dept. of Transportation, with the daunting complications to commuter rail. the Ventura County Transportation achieving rail improvements. This is a Commission, and SBCAG). The joint status report about one such effort that is 101 in Motion was the basis for the project powers authority that previously just making progress despite the hurdles often list in Measure A, the Santa Barbara advocated for better service but now also encountered in rail advocacy. County transportation sales tax passed directly manages the Pacific Surfliner, the in 2008. It allocated $25 million (over 30 Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Sometimes, as in this case, the impetus years) for Commuter and Passenger Rail Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) Agency, is a behind a rail proposal is geographic. Santa Planning and Service Improvements. The central party in these talks. Barbara, a picturesque coastal community rail portion of the $1-billion Measure A north of Los Angeles, is hemmed in by program is overseen by Scott Spaulding, An extensive and growing list of mountains on one side and the Pacific Principal Transportation Planner at stakeholder organizations and elected Ocean on the other. As a result, the space SBCAG. officials are providing leadership to the available for housing is limited and often effort. Dennis Story has for years tirelessly unaffordable. Many who work in Santa Per the Measure A website, “Eligible worked to build this coalition along Barbara live to the south in Ventura expenditures are capital and operating with putting on an annual event tied to County, which is about 30-40 miles away, costs including developing new schedules National Train Day with a demonstration and commute to their jobs on the 101 and service plans, obtaining environmental round-trip train ride between Santa freeway, which is the only road connecting clearances, negotiating agreements, operating Barbara and Carpinteria along with a the two areas and understandably is highly subsidies, rolling stock and related equipment, press conference attended by key elected congested during peak commute times. promotions and marketing, maintenance, officials supporting the proposal. connecting transit service, track improvements, The 101 corridor is paralleled by the rail station facilities, train and grade crossing The stakeholders include: right-of-way owned by the Union Pacific controls.” Initial efforts have focused on and used by two Amtrak routes, the adjusting the Surfliner’s schedule to make it • Rail Passengers Association of California intercity Pacific Surfliner (which operates convenient for the use of commuters between & Nevada (RailPAC five daily round trips between San Diego Ventura County and Santa Barbara and • Coalition for Sustainable Transportation and Santa Barbara, with two extending other communities in Santa Barbara County (COAST) to San Luis Obispo) and long-distance (including Goleta and Carpinteria) with hopes • Alliance for Sustainable and Equitable Coast Starlight route (which operates one of eventually augmenting this at a later time Regional Transportation (ASERT) daily round trip between Los Angeles and with dedicated commuter train service. • Coastal Rail Now (CRN) Seattle). Logically, interest arose among residents in the effected areas to seek a rail A change in the Surfliner schedule involves The officials include: option for weekday commuting between cooperation from Metrolink, whose Ventura County and Santa Barbara. commuter service in Orange, Los Angeles, • State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Ventura Counties uses the same rail chair of the Senate Select Committee on In the early part of the last decade, a right of way as the Surfliner, and right of Passenger Rail planning effort was undertaken to address way owner Union Pacific, which operates • State Assemblymember Das Williams congestion along the corridor under freight service throughout California and • First District Supervisor Salud Carbajal the aegis of the Santa Barbara County the western United States. Slots in the who also is a LOSSAN Board member Association of Governments (SBCAG), busy coastal rail corridor served by both • Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider a regional planning agency. 101 in Amtrak, Metrolink, the Coaster (in San • Santa Barbara Councilman Gregg Hart Motion involved extensive outreach to Diego County), and freight railroads are • Goleta Councilmembers Paula Perotte stakeholders over more than two years. at a premium. Negotiations are underway and Michael Bennet Through the efforts of advocates like among the key entities to work out a plan (Continued on page 5) RAIL USERS’ NETWORK NEWSLETTER Page 3 of 16 Mayor Bill de Blasio proposes Brooklyn-Queens Light Rail By Andrew Albert The Mayor extolled the virtues of “one would bring transit service to some hard New York,” and how some low-income to reach public housing developments, it In his recent State of the City address, communities don’t have the transportation isn’t that far to existing subway stations, Mayor de Blasio proposed a 16-mile-long opportunities of more well-to-do and of course, many bus lines already light rail line, running along the East River neighborhoods. It is the Mayor’s boldest make the trip. Anti-development groups waterfront (or close by) from Astoria in transportation initiative, but one that are already blasting the proposal, as Northwestern Queens to the Sunset Park definitely deserves some important scrutiny. another giveaway to developers, who will area of Brooklyn, at a proposed cost of raise rents, and drive them out of their $2.5 billion. The line would connect the First of all, the proposed light rail line neighborhoods. neighborhoods of Astoria, Ravenswood, would run much of the way paralleling Long Island City, Greenpoint, existing subway lines, although not for Transportation advocates are saying that Williamsburg, DUMBO, Downtown the entire route. Another hitch is it is the idea should be studied further, and Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, unknown at this point who would run the talks with the MTA should begin.