The majority of intercity and regional/commuter passenger rail service in the U.S. is on tracks shared with freight trains. Therefore, sufficient capacity, safety and reliability of the nation’s freight rail system is vital to the interest of rail passengers. These two different uses of railroad infrastructure need not be in conflict. Both passenger and freight…
A previous issue of Steel Wheels (Q3 2020) had a brief report on the Anaheim Canyon improvement project, and new Placentia Metrolink station in Orange County. This article will describe the major LOSSAN corridor projects in Orange County, which will have great benefit to passenger rail in the entire Southern California region. Orange County, with…
Click here for more information about the Serra Siding Extension Project in Dana Point, currently under environmental review by the Orange County Transportation Authority. To: Chris Haskell SCORE Deputy Program Manager 900 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1500 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Email: [email protected] CC: Donna DeMartino, LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency Managing Director April 11, 2021 Subject:…
California State Senate Committee on TransportationState Capitol, Room 2209Sacramento, CA 95814 March 30, 2021 RE: Appropriation of Proposition 1A Funds to the CHSRA Good Day. My name is Steve Roberts and I am President of the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC). I want to thank you for the opportunity to view and…
March 15, 2021 California State Senate Sub-Committee #5 -TransportationState Capitol, Room 5019Sacramento, CA 95814 Chairs Gonzalez, Durazo and Sub-Committee Members: After review of the California High Speed Rail Authority Revised Draft 2020 California Business Plan,the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC) recommends that the Revised 2020 Business Plan be adopted. RailPAC also supports…
Within the next week it appears that the House will have the final vote on its COVID Relief Bill. As released, the bill has funding and a mandate for daily service of Amtrak’s long-distance trains. RailPAC encourages all those who value passenger rail to contact their representative and encourage them to vote for the bill. All House…
Download the pdf of Steel Wheels, 1st Quarter 2021 by clicking here. In this issue: San Diego County rail improvements Public transportation in a post-pandemic world Prospects for future LA-Phoenix passenger rail Letter to California High Speed Rail Authority Arizona rail news Russ Jackson commentary on state of U.S. passenger rail in 2021 Andrew Seldon…
Passenger rail lost a good friend yesterday with the untimely death of former Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge. Tom gave the welcoming address at two of our Steel Wheels conferences in Los Angeles, and with his encyclopedic knowledge of the geography and history of the city could always be relied on to give proceedings…
Download the pdf of Steel Wheels, 4th quarter 2020 by clicking here. In this issue: Russ Jackson commentary on Amtrak’s current predicament Arizona news Amtrak preliminary FY’20 results released High Speed Rail update- Brighline West and Florida Riverside County developments, including Coachella Valley Rail Diverse markets of long-distance trains and more!
The annual meeting of the Rail Passenger Association of California and Nevada (RailPAC) for 2020 will be held on Saturday Nov. 14 at 1 p.m. Our keynote speaker is Dan Leavitt, Manager of Regional Initiatives for San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. He will talk about Valley Rail, a major commuter and intercity rail program in…