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Please contact your U.S. Representative in support of COVID Relief Bill and Amtrak long-distance trains
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…
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Steel Wheels, 1st Quarter 2021 issue available online
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…
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RailPAC remembers Tom LaBonge (1953 – 2021)
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…
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Steel Wheels, 4th Quarter 2020 available online
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!
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RailPAC submits public comment letter on California Transportation Plan 2050
The California Transportation Plan (CTP) 2050 is the “state’s long-range transportation plan that establishes an aspirational vision that articulates strategic goals, policies, and recommendations to improve multimodal mobility and accessibility while reducing greenhouse gas emissions”: https://ctp2050.com/ Read RailPAC’s letter of public comment on the CTP 2050 public review draft by clicking here.
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Caltrain Measure RR
To our readers residing and registered to vote anywhere within San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, Caltrain needs your support. On the November 2020 ballot, there will be a measure to provide dedicated funding for Caltrain on the ballot known as Measure RR. Unlike BART, Caltrain has never had a dedicated funding source, which…
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Amtrak’s Current Situation
With the failure on September 10th in the Senate to pass a “skinny” stimulus package, the outlook for any stimulus legislation is bleak. The stimulus legislation, as passed by the House, was the vehicle that was to be used to deliver a supplemental appropriation to keep daily service, state funded corridor routes, commuter rail and transit operating…
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STATEMENT Of UNITED RAIL PASSENGER ALLIANCE To the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Hearing on Amtrak Response to Covid-19 September 9, 2020
United Rail Passenger Alliance (URPA) respectfully submits this Statement to the Subcommittee. URPA is an independent national research and education organization on rail passenger transportation issues. Amtrak’s response to the Covid-19 epidemic has been schizophrenic. At the same time it undertook a campaign to clean its stations and trains to reduce the risk of virus…
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Steel Wheels, 3rd quarter 2020 available online
Download the pdf of Steel Wheels magazine, 3rd quarter 2020 by clicking here. In this issue: RailPAC and Steel Wheels Coalition to Amtrak: “Daily is Minimum Acceptable Standard for Long Distance Trains”, and Amtrak’s reply, with Russ Jackson’s reply to Amtrak, Paul Dyson response. High Speed Rail update Tri Weekly and the Heartland Flyer Orange…