[also published in 3rd Quarter 2022 issue of Steel Wheels] Brian YanityVice President-South, RailPAC (photos by the author unless otherwise noted) (background map: OpenStreetMap.org, annotations by author) An exciting prospect for new passenger rail in Southern California is an Imperial Valley extension to the Coachella Valley Rail passenger service, currently under development. As currently proposed,…
The 3rd Quarter 2022 issue of RailPAC’s quarterly magazine Steel Wheels can be downloaded by clicking here. In this issue: Passenger rail to the Imperial Valley Introducing the ‘Aurora Group’ advocating for Amtrak’s National Network Amtrak Beech Grove National Network shops Passenger train planning- best practices How many tracks do train stations need? Arizona News…
The 12th Central Coast Railroad Festival is set for October 7-9, 2022. Many events will be held at multiple venues around the Central Coast. For more information, click here. The Festival is designed to attract the attention of avid and casual rail fans as well as curious folks from across the Western United States. It…
Brian Yanity Vice President-South, RailPAC [this is an updated version of an article which first appeared in the Q1 2021 issue of Steel Wheels] The fast-growing Phoenix metropolitan area, the Valley of the Sun, is home to nearly 5 million people- two-thirds of all Arizonans. Phoenix itself has a diverse population of nearly 1.7 million…
The Honorable Pete ButtigiegOffice of the Secretary of TransportationUnited States Department of Transportation1200 New Jersey Ave, SEWashington, D.C., 20590 May 14, 2022 Subject: Letter of support for NCTD’s Application for Funding from the INFRA and MEGA Programs Dear Secretary Buttigieg: I am writing on behalf of the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC),…
[same letter also sent to U.S. Senators Alex Padilla] The Honorable Dianne FeinsteinUnited States Senate331 Hart Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 April 2, 2022 Subject: Support funding for the Coachella Valley-San Gorgonio Pass Rail Corridor Service Dear Senator Feinstein: The Rail Passengers Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC) fully supports the for the Riverside County…
“Metrolink is working with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner to make more trains available so you can travel when it’s convenient for you. Metrolink, in partnership with Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, created codeshare for Ventura County Line riders between Los Angeles and Ventura.” Click here for more info.
The Honorable Amit Bose Administrator Federal Railroad Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 February 28, 2022 Re: Support for the Camp Pendleton-CP SONGS Bridge Replacement & Double Tracking Project Dear Administrator Bose: I am writing on behalf of the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC), an all-volunteer, non-profit passenger rail…
[SANDAG is pursuing both federal and state funding for a program of shovel-ready capital improvement projects along the Los Angeles – San Luis Obispo – San Diego (LOSSAN) rail corridor, proposing the same program of projects under the state’s Transit & Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) and the Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for State…