Washington Rail News December 2007 /January 2008 www.AllAboardWashington.org Publication of All Aboard Washington A Not ---for-forforfor----profitprofit Consumer Organization “Moving forward...On Rail ."."." Aubrey Davis and Ed Barnes, long time rail Amtrak ridership and revenue: supporters, honored by All Aboard Washington another record year; At its annual membership meeting to the future. 2008 funding still in flux on Nov. 10 at the state History Mu- When serving on the Transportation Amtrak ended fiscal year 2007 on seum in Tacoma over 50 members of Commission in the early 90s Davis Sept. 30 with its fifth straight year of ri - All Aboard Washington honored two of asked Gil Mallery, then the head of the dership increases, carrying the most our state’s biggest advocates for rail DOT Rail Office and recently retire d passengers in the railroad’s 36 year transportation, particularly passenger from Amtrak, how much could DOT history. The company carried rail service: Aubrey Davis of Mercer spend on passenger rail in the state. 25,847,531 passengers, up over 6.3% Island and Ed Barnes of Vancouver. Mallery’s analysis produced a figure of from 2006. Aubrey Davis, now in his ninth dec- $43 mill. The Commission put it in their Ticket revenues in FY2007 also ade, has been involved in public trans- budget proposal to the Legislature. reached a new record: $1.5 bill., an portation for many years. He has With the strong support of the late Ruth 11% increase over the $1.37 recorded served as mayor of Mercer Island, was Fisher and other legislators, the fund- in 2006. Including income from contract the Northwest regional administrator for ing was approved and the Amtrak Cas- services (for instance , Amtrak main- the Urban Mass Transit Administration cades were born. It was Mallery that tains Sounder equipment in Seattle), (predecessor of today’s Federal Transit really got the state rail program going. the company’s total revenue in 2007 Administration) and served on the state Davis said Mallery had many ideas on was $2.2 bill. Transportation Commission. In his in- service and improvements that could "Highway and airway congestion, troduction of Davis, Lloyd Flem noted be made. We’ve taken several steps in volatile fuel prices, increasing environ - that you don’t hear him talking much implementing Gil’s vision with reduced mental awareness and a need for about the past; Davis is always looking travel times, additional frequencies transportation links between growing south of Seattle communities are some of the factors and restored that make intercity passenger rail ex - service north of tremely relevant in today's world," said Seattle. Davis Amtrak President Alex Kummant. "Our praised Ed record setting ridership and ticket reve - Barnes’s ser- nue in FY07 indicate the stage is set vice on the for Amtrak to take on a role as not only Transportation a contributor to the nation's transporta - Commission tion network, but as a leader among and his strong modes," he added. support for rail Accor ding to the Travel Industry As - Left photo: Aubrey Davis, center, with Tony Trifiletti, left, and service. sociation of America’s latest report , de- Lloyd Flem. The plaque presented to Aubrey by All Aboard Though not mand for the rail option is now growing Washington states : All Aboard Washington extends its prefect, Davis faster than air passenger boarding s appreciation to Aubrey Davis. Your decades of leadership and motor fuel use. This despite con- in Washington State have e nsured that passenger and supported the freight rail are key components of multimodal Sound Transit/ strained capacity in many markets due transportation operations. Your legacy – the single most Regional to limited frequencies and not enough important Washingtonian in bringing modern rail service to Transportation passenger cars. our state – provides an ongoing inspiration for 21 st century Improvement In the Northwest, here are the rider - leaders . Tacoma, Washington November 10, 2007 District’s Prop- ship and revenue figures for FY2007 Right Photo: Ed Barnes, left, with Lloyd Flem. Ed’s plaque osition 1. “The for our Amtrak trains (percentage presented by All Aboard Washington states: All Aboard only perfect change from 2006 in parenthesis). • Washington extends its appreciation to Ed Barnes. During plan is to do Cascades: 674,153 (+7.4%); your twelve years of service on the Washingto n nothing,” he $18, 165,351 (+9.9%) Transportation Commission you were a tireless advocate stated. We • Empire Builder: 504,977 (+1.6%); for modern passenger train service. Planners and need to change $53,177,760 (+ 9.2%) passengers alike are forever in your debt as a true public the way we pay (See Record Year, page 6) servant. Tacoma, Washington November 10, 2007 (See Honor, p. 4) Photo by Jim Hamre page 2 to our big -little brothers in Montana, our ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ From the desk of friends in Oregon and now, Idaho, too!) Congratu lations to AAWA Board mem - the Government Thanks to elected officials and other bers George Barner of Olympia and Affairs Director community leaders in many parts of our Louis Musso of Cle Elum. In the recent bybyby state who have worked for and sup - November election George won a posi - ported passenger rail. (OK, call me tion on the Port of Olympia commis - Lloyd H. Flem provincial, but leaders in my own sion, where the role of rail serving the Olympia, Lacey and Thurston County Port will now certainly retain a strong Thanksgiving and Christmas have been and remain among the best! posit ion. Louis was significantly re - Holiday Blessings; Congratulations; See below.) Kudos to Dryside advo- sponsible for the successful vote to "Cooperate, Guys, It's a Good cates like Jim Neal and new Leaven - create Washington's first county rail Storm!" worth Mayor Rob Eaton (AAWA activ - district in Kittitas County. Also congra - At this Thanksgiving and upcoming ists) who continue to lead the way for tulations to Olympia Mayor Mark Christmas holiday season, it is appro- more rail in Central Washington. And Foutch, who will be retiring from that priate to list some things about which thanks to Chuck Mott and other AAWA position after 16 years on the city we Washington state passenger rail members who are leaders in the im - council and four years as the Capital advocates should be thankful. portant effort to preserve rail service in City's mayor. AAWA member Mark has We have SOME passenger trains, Metro Seattle's Eastside suburbs. served as the most pro -rail member of intercity, commuter and light rail (thriv- Thanks to you loyal members of the most pro -rail city council in our ing in Tacoma and pending from Seat- WashARP, now All Aboard Washing - state. (Doubt it? Were the rest of the tle to SeaTac.) For these trains let us ton, many of whom have hung in there state to have the same per capita ratio again thank past and present enligh- for two decades or more as we slowly of members as from Olympia an d La- tened members of our Washington make progress as one America's most cey, we would be about ten times State Legislature (special thanks to the respected independent rail advoca cy larger than at present.) late Ruth Fisher!), past and present organizations. Also, thanks to those ☯☯☯☯☯☯☯ members of our Washington State members who make tangible, as well Opinion pieces from recent profes - Transportation Commission sional rail periodicals plead (two, Aubrey Davis and Ed Thanks to you loyal members of the case that all rail interests Barnes, we properly honored WashARP, now All Aboard have much in common and at our annual meeting in Ta- should be cooperating coma on Nov. 10), most of Washington, many of whom have hung closely for the good of all in - our governors in recent in there for two decades or more as we volved in the rail mode. I may years, and other vital state slowly make progress as one add, should be cooperating officials such as Ralph closely for the good of North Munro and Sid Morrison. In America's most respected independent America and its citizens, addition, thanks to many past rail advocacy organizations. economically, environmen - WSDOT people. Men like tally and socially. Rail owner - Jim Toohey, Jim Slakey, Gil Mallery, as time and energy contributions to our ship, management and labor will all and Ray Allred. And sincere thanks to cause. Among those are Bob and Hope benefit from working together rather the talented and dedicated folks now in Stevens of Helena , Montana (Yes, than exhuming old or exaggerating new the state Rail Office, nationally seen as Montana again!) whose Fanwood problems. (This does not mean rail la - one of our country's best. Foundation makes a most generous bor should not be treated with the Thanks to those at Amtrak and annual do nation to All Aboard greatest respect, management should Sound Transit who view their work as a Washington. not seek to decrease the role of obso - mission, not just a job. I believe most of On a personal level, Loren Herrig- lete steam -era work rules, or there our rail employees are of that quality. stad, Jim Hamre and other South shouldn't be caution about the latest So thanks, rail people, management Sound AAWA regulars have been par - hustles by "hedge fund" investors and and labor. We can also be pleased that ticularly helpful, as I have experienced others whose interests are just in over - the state, Amtrak, Sound Transit and physical mobility challenges in recent night profits rather than investments BNSF have cooperative relationships years. Most of all, I want to offer thanks that bring long -term benefits to share- that have evolved into what this Old to one Darleen K .