Hotline #903

Senate leaders suggested this week that rail provisions could be included in a surface transportation reauthorization-- a bill that must move forward before June due to the scheduled expiration of the federal gas tax.

“If we do a multiyear reauthorization of the surface transportation, the highway bill, there's generally a rail title in that, so that could be a vehicle,” Senate Commerce Committee Chair John Thune (R-SD) told Bloomberg BNA. “And I guess we haven't gamed that out exactly where we might try to attach it, but that would certainly be an option.”

Senator Thune represents a state with no passenger rail service, and his comments referred to specific regulatory features affecting freight railroads and shippers: the structure of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the environmental review process governing construction on rail projects. However, NARP has been actively pushing to include predictable, dedicated funding for passenger trains in the surface transportation bill, and the chairman’s statements indicate there will be a window of opportunity for America’s passengers to make their case.

The STB also plays a key role in ensuring the on-time performance of Amtrak trains. Following our victory in the Supreme Court, NARP is working to pass certain provisions regarding metrics & standards to make sure passengers are not stuck behind freight trains.

With a May 31 expiration date looming for the Highway Trust Fund—which provides revenue for transit as well as highways—transportation leaders in Congress are all too aware that time is running short. The time crunch has led to a difference of opinions over the best way to move forward, with some pushing for a short-term extension to provide additional time to work out the funding issues and others arguing a long-term fix is within reach.

“After Easter recess is probably when we’ll have to make a decision” House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) told reporters. “Every day that goes by gets more and more difficult to hit that deadline… I believe if we get the funding solution, we can move pretty quickly on a bill.”


The campaign to restore passenger rail service between Vermont and Montreal secured a significant victory this week with the announcement that the United States and Canada have signed an agreement designed to improve cross-border travel.

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy (D) issued a statement congratulating Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney. Leahy has worked to help reestablish the international rail corridor for many years.

“Pre-clearance facilities allow travelers to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections prior to traveling, permitting them to quickly move along to their destinations upon arrival in the United States,” said the statement issued by Leahy’s office. “A new agreement has been needed before discussions and work on creating a pre-clearance facility at Montreal’s Central Station—and re-establishing train service between Vermont and Montreal—could happen.”

“Vermonters and Quebeckers have a long, special and enduring relationship,” said Senator Leahy. “Many families, like our own, have relatives and friends on both sides of our border. Marcelle was born in Newport, to parents who emigrated from Quebec. Vermont and Canada also are close partners in trade, commerce and tourism and as joint stewards of our shared communities. Both nations are striving to ensure that our border is secure. This agreement has long been a goal, and a dream, for Vermonters who have fond memories of rail trips to Montreal to enjoy all that its vibrant cultural capital has to offer. This is also a win for visitors from Canada’s largest cities who are eager to visit Vermont to ski, shop and dine. I commend Secretary Johnson and Minister Blaney for their commitment to forging this agreement that will greatly benefit the economies of our state and nation.”

The Vermont Rail Action Network (VRAN) issued a statement praising the agreement. The group has identified the restoration of service between the two cities as one of its top two priorities.

“Right now the Vermonter leaves Saint Albans with only a few riders, adding more at each stop until it is full at Hartford going into New York, Philadelphia and Washington,” wrote VRAN’s President Chris Parker. “Being able to start from a major metropolitan city will be like having an anchor store at both ends of the mall. The train will start out full, Quebecors will get off at each stop and Vermonters will board. And so, by running only another hour north to Montreal, the load factors and train-miles (and thus the train's economics) will improve drastically.”


Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly (D) joined the fight to save—and improve—the Hoosier State, writing to the Federal Railroad Administration and the Indiana Department of Transportation asking them to strike a deal that would allow the train to continue operating.

In his letter, Senator Donnelly also backed a plan put forward by All Aboard Ohio to extend the Hoosier State to Cincinnati:

“As you know, the Hoosier State is an important transportation option connecting Indianapolis, Chicago, and the communities in between. Even as its future has been uncertain in recent years, demand for the service continues, with nearly 34,000 passengers during Fiscal Year 2014. I regularly hear from constituents who rely on the Hoosier State, as well as from those who would like to see the service improved and extended into southern Indiana communities and Cincinnati, Ohio.

“I know many Hoosiers support the state working to improve and expand the Hoosier State service. I am sensitive to concerns related to employment practices and state resources that may result from FRA policies. It also is important, however, that the state work closely with FRA to ensure the safe operation of the Hoosier State line. I also expect FRA to continue working with the state to address their concerns, while also ensuring that the safety of Hoosiers is not compromised.”


Pennsylvania’s The Daily Local profiled Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA) of Westchester this week after he became one of the 132 House Republicans who voted to support Amtrak service through the Passenger Rail Reform and Improvement Act of 2015.

While NARP believes this bill could go much further in building a 21st Century passenger rail network, The Daily Local piece shows that the bill represents a shift in the partisan nature of support for passenger trains.

“It’s because of the partnership between Amtrak and PennDOT, the plans are moving forward with upgrading all three train stations in the future,” said Rep. Costello. “The positive momentum for these projects is going to continue, thanks to the bi-partisan legislation that we passed in the House, and which I call on the Senate to take up.”

“I think passenger rail represents one of the best hopes for relief of the country’s congested highways and air space, and certainly here in Chester County,” Costello added. “It offers more promise for economic development opportunities around the train stations, as well as more folks taking passenger rail through the heart of Chester County.”


Following the successful relaunch of the Denver Ski Train, the Colorado Rail Passenger Association (ColoRail) issued a public call to make the restoration permanent:

Some 900 skiers, snow boarders and sight-seers rode Amtrak’s Winter Park Express excursion Saturday and Sunday, March 14th and 15th. The current version of ski train service was born as a proposed business plan crafted by Amtrak Conductor Brad Swartzwelter in collaboration with Winter Park execs and ColoRail members. It ran flawlessly between Denver Union Station and Winter Park Resort, arriving 15 minutes early each day, an added bonus for the skiers.

“I saw nothing but smiles on both days” said ColoRail volunteer Bob Brewster. “People were thanking the Amtrak crew members and ColoRail volunteers all the way back to Denver Union Station on both days!”

“The train was so much fun and the skiing was great!” said ColoRail member Gary Sprung, an avid skier. “With my Winter Park season pass, the $75 fare really competed with driving my car alone. Going home, I just relaxed and watched the awesome scenery with my legs stretched out in the spacious seat.”

Winter Park Resort CEO Gary DeFrange hosted a luncheon at the Lodge at SunSpot for Amtrak and ColoRail. DeFrange was effusive with his praise and determined to get service restored. Ideas for better service and ways to make sure service is fully restored were the main topics of conversation.

‘Restoration of ski train service is ColoRail’s goal number one in its Building Block strategy” said Jim Souby, ColoRail’s president. “The Winter Park Express runs have propelled us forward.” ColoRail’s Building Block strategy is aimed at achieving ColoRail’s proposed passenger rail system for Colorado, one step at a time.” (See map of ColoRail's proposed system.) “The first step is building support for increased passenger rail service and connectivity in Colorado, and the fun, appealing ski train can strongly contribute to public appreciation of the rail alternative to congested highways.” Souby pointed to the state Southwest Chief legislation of 2014 as another recent Building-Block achievement.

You can find out more about ColoRail’s work at www.ColoRail.org.


A group of New Jersey lawmakers is trying to jumpstart construction of new rail tunnels between New Jersey and New York City by pushing the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to sell valuable real estate, including the World Trade Center.

“The core mission of the Port Authority is transportation—not real estate,” said New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney at a press conference held in Newark Penn Station. “If a tunnel shuts down, three-quarters of the rail traffic stops with it, which would cripple the economy of this state. We’re beyond talking about this. It has to happen now.”

Sweeney was joined by four other Democrats. The group believes the sale would raise around $3 billion for construction of a new tunnel, which would connect the two states under the Hudson River. Currently, Amtrak and New Jersey Transit rely on a pair of 104-year old tunnels that have been significantly damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Amtrak is warning that the tunnels will need to be single-tracked for extended periods so that critical repairs can be made.

Complicating the political hurdles to moving the additional tunnels forward is the fact that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) killed a tunnel project early in his first term. The Access to the Regions Core (ARC) project had secured sufficient federal and local funding, but Christie halted preliminary construction work upon taking office, citing the potential for cost overruns. (NARP was a strong proponent of ARC, but opposed a last minute revision to the project which would’ve had the tunnels dead-end in a deep-cavern station in Midtown Manhattan, precluding use by Amtrak.)

Sweeney’s proposal echoes recommendations issued by a bi-state panel convened by New Jersey and New York, and appears to have found a receptive audience at the Port Authority.

“The Port Authority is focused on meeting the increasing requirements for Trans-Hudson transit
capacity at our crossings and terminals in coordination with regional stakeholders, and prudently divesting non-core real estate holdings in order to focus on our core transportation mission,” said agency spokesman Steve Coleman.


The Maryland Department of Transportation is joining with the Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, and the Baltimore City Transportation Department to host a series of public outreach meetings concerning the replacement of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Tunnel.

The tunnel dates back to before the Civil War, and is a key chokepoint for train travel on the Northeast Corridor. MD-DOT is examining four alternatives to replace or reconstruct the tunnel. The meetings will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at a number of locations around Baltimore:

•April 13 at Gilmor Elementary, 1311 North Gilmor Street
•April 14 at Mt. Royal Elementary, 121 McMechen Street
•April 20 at Westside Elementary, 2235 North Fulton Avenue
•April 21 at Lockerman Bundy Elementary, 301 North Pulaski Street


Backed by influential business groups, a bi-partisan group of U.S. Representatives is fighting to kill a proposal that would eliminate the role of the federal government in building and maintaining transportation systems.

The Chair and Ranking Member of the House Transportation Committee, Representatives Bill Shuster (R) and Peter DeFazio (D), united in opposing the Transportation Empowerment Act, which would slash federal funding for roads and transit from $45 billion per year to $8 billion. The representatives were backed by a broad coalition of 38 transportation and business groups, including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (ASHTO), the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, UPS, FedEx, Volvo Trucks, and several of the largest freight trucking companies.

“Devolution proposals are not a solution to the long-term infrastructure funding question, but rather serve as a distraction from the debate about how best to fully fund our nation's infrastructure,” wrote the coalition in a letter. “We urge you to oppose devolution of the surface transportation program and refrain from cosponsoring TEA or similarly misguided legislation in the 114th Congress.”

They were joined by leaders in the construction industry, who warned that millions of American jobs would be threatened if TEA was enacted.

“All this legislation would do is force drivers to pay more at the pump without delivering any improvements to the quality of safety of the roads and bridges they use,” said Transportation Construction Coalition co-chair Stephen E. Sandherr, who is also CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America. “In particular, gutting the federal transportation program will force residents of large, less populous states to pay a lot more to maintain highways that benefit shippers and travelers from all over the country.”

Governors also spoke out against TEA. They did, however, recognize a need to builder a smarter and more diverse transportation system going forward, arguing that focusing on improving personal mobility rather than asphalt would convince taxpayers that money was being well spent.

“If we show that, where we're planning to spend that money, and show that we have a plan and a vision for the next generation and the generation after that, I think people are willing to pay for it,” said North Carolina Gov. Patrick McCrory (R), testifying on behalf the National Governors Association. “But if we don't have their trust and spend the money as we've always spent it, I don't think we're going to get the trust of the people to increase the amount of funding for transportation.”


Passenger Advisory

—The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority announced that Amtrak’s Downeaster will begin running an altered schedule beginning March 30. The new schedule will work to establish greater reliability and better conform to the economic needs of the communities served.

"The Downeaster is an economic engine for the Freeport business community and the shorter day trip associated with this new schedule may actually encourage more shoppers to our town", said Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sande Updegraph.


Find the full changes here.


—Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority rail operator Keolis Commuter Service added 42 trains back into service on March 16, an important step in restoring full commuter rail service by March 30.

The MBTA system has been hard hit by the record snowfall that slammed Massachusetts this winter.

"We told passengers that we were committed to adding trains back into the schedule as quickly as possible and we meant it,” Keolis Commuter Services General Manager Gerald Francis told Progressive Railroading.

—The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the arrival of train service in Raleigh.

"The introduction of the railroad revolutionized travel and freight movement throughout our state and the nation," said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata. "Nearly two centuries later, rail continues to play an important role in North Carolina’s multimodal transportation system, as well as supporting job creation, economic development and commerce activities that are critical to the future vitality of our state.”