Category: Commentary

  • RailPAC co-signs letter highlighting opportunities to cut the costs of extending Caltrain into the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco

        May 14, 2020     Dear Mayor Breed,     This letter comes from groups committed to the idea that that getting Caltrain connected to 10 other rail lines and over 40 bus lines in downtown San Francisco would be a major move toward seamless transit and therefore deserving of a high priority.  The attached report…

  • RailPAC Commentary on Metrolink Antelope Valley Line Improvements

    RailPAC has been urging LA Metro and Metrolink to double truck the line between Burbank and Santa Clarita for more than two decades.  We finally have a down payment from the State, with some matching funds from other sources.  Why am I less than excited by this news?  Two and a half decades have passed…

  • Coronavirus Relief Package Includes $1 Billion for Amtrak, $25 Billion for Transit Agencies

    In late March 2020, RailPAC was one of over 240 signers from across the country (including elected officials, cities and organizations) on a letter written by Transportation for America (T4America) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).  The letter urged Congress to provide $13 billion in emergency funding for public transportation and passenger rail service.…

  • President’s Commentary – Key RailPAC priorities for 2020

    By Steve Roberts – RailPAC President [Originally published in Steel Wheels, 1st Quarter 2020] Greetings! In early January, members of the RailPAC Board developed options and came to a consensus on RailPAC’s policy priorities for 2020.  The two major ground rules were that the priorities had to be focused and actionable in 2020.  A list…

  • RailPAC submits comment letter on Connect SoCal – The 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy

    The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) regional transportation plan is nearing completion. As described by SCAG’s Connect SoCal website: “Connect SoCal – The 2020-2045 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy is a long-range visioning plan that balances future mobility and housing needs with economic, environmental and public health goals. Connect SoCal embodies a collective vision…

  • 2020 Steel Wheels Conference – UPDATE

    This year’s Steel Wheel Conference will be held on Saturday, September 12th at the California State Railroad Museum in Old Town, Sacramento. SAVE THE DATE!! Details to follow.

  • WE’RE STILL HERE!

    Happy New Decade! Thank you for viewing our website and accept our apologies for the out of date material and lack of recent posts. We plan to rectify that in the new year, building on our success in 2019 with the passage of SB742. The Board will be meeting in early January and we invite…

  • RailPAC response to Newsom speech

      RailPAC Response to Governor Newsom – February 13, 2019 The Future of Modern, Efficient, Intercity Passenger Rail in California RailPAC supports Governor Newsom’s action in changing the leadership of the High -Speed Rail Authority.  After a decade it is clearly time for a change.  Reprioritizing the high-speed rail project toward the completion of an…

  • Newsom cuts High Speed Rail – or does he?

    Paul Dyson writes: The dust hasn’t settled yet on the State of the State speech, and over the years I have become a committed believer in letting the dust settle.  The initial reaction from many is that HSR is dead, but I don’t think the story is over.  In the next few days RailPAC will…

  • High Speed Rail Board Comes to Burbank

    CHSRA Board Meeting November 15, 2018 Burbank While I was not able attend the recent Board meeting of the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) I did view the video and as President of the Rail Passenger Association of California (RailPAC) I wanted to provide my impressions of the meeting and public comments.  The overall emotion…