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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMTWY association of railroadMTWYarp FEBRUARY 2003 REGION 8 MEETING I~AR 1 3 2003 CITY OF LAUREL It is getting close to the date when the National Association of Railroad Passengers Region 8 will meet. We are still trying to get another speaker~ We do have someone from the Montana Department of Transportation and the Manager of the Governmental Affairs office in Chicago committed. We have not heard from NARP who could commit themselves and we ars trying to get someone from the Midwest Rail Coalition, which is the group that hosted the Chicago meetings to start the American Rail Passenger Agreement. We at MTWYarp endorsed the three point agreement as have 65 other groups including the association of Mayors, unions and other types of organizations. This newsletter is going out to those we normally send our newsletters to and also to those people who belong to NARP but do not belong to one of the state groups that make up Region 8. To those people I would say help us in our local efforts. We need your support. It is as true today as it was during this country's revo!ut!qn. U.N_ITED WE STAND. DIVIDED WE FALL. Each ~f us might have a problem with someone in the state group or at the Nationai level, but we ars all in this fight to get more and better passenger service all over this country. We need to have a clear cut agrsement on our goals as state organizations and the national level. This is going to be the year it appears that congrsss is going to change Amtrak. Now that the money for 2003 has been approved, and the disbursement will be from the Transportation department we can expect to see something happen. Weather it is good or bad for us, it is going to be up to all of us to make it good and workable. We started our group about four years ago and have made an impact on the need in Montana and Wyoming for better rail passenger service. Our goal is to have a route from the Pacific Northwest through Western and Southern Montana, Western Wyoming to Denver and south to Dallas and maybe in Mexico. We also would like to work with the rail people in Alberta, Canada to have a route from Edmonton to Shelby then to Helena, Montana to connect with our "Rockies Unlimited' route. As you non members of MT/WYarp and live in either state can see we have a big project hers like the project that Washington and Oregon started, which is now the route of the Cascades. This can not be done by a few people we need YOU to help. Start that help by attending the meeting in Shelby, Apd~ 26~. On page thrse of this news letter is a registration form for you to complete and mail in, so we can get some good counts for the meals and etc. Patti's restaurant is dirsctly across from the Depot and the Comfort Inn is not to far away. Jerry Smith has volunteered to help shuttle people around those couple of days and I will be there the 25~ to help get people from the depot to the motel and the morning of the 26~ from the motel to the meeting place. NON-NARP/STATE ARP MEMBERS To you individuals, businesses, politicians, groups, and etc that get the MT/WYarp newsletter, I have a message for you. For the last couple of years you have received a copy of the newsletter to keep you informed of what is happening in our struggle for a nation wide passenger rail service. I hope it has been a benefit to you, We have' received monies from those listed on page four, to pay for the postage and printing of those newsletters. The point is there are those who help and those who do not. There are those who want a National Passenger Rail system and there are those who do not give a hoot, and then there are those who absolutely oppose such an idea, and probably throw the newsletter in file thirteen. For you here in Montana and Wyoming I would like you to attend our meeting. With the increase of gasoline prices and more to come, and the deminishing airline service in our two states, maybe you will want to learn more about our efforts. Maybe you will get to know the kind of people who are pushing for this to happen. Whatever happens it will be to your benefit to receive it. Those of you in the Chambers; County Commission; Mayors; Politicians, Tourist industry; county and state planners; and those in private business this could be what you need for you to make some important decisions in the future. If you would like to be a guest speaker]ust let me knOw and I will put you on the agenda. AMERICAN PASSINGER RAIL AGREEMENT Below is a template to use to contact potential APRA signatories. We thought we should pass it along to save you all some work. , We~s,.e-a$~tln0-.in. ~ nat[onc,,~oampaigr,,~.e =~b~at...her-. support for:an~.ex, panded,~e, and modern __ national passenger rail system. [TAILOR THIS SENTENCE TO YOUR ADDRESSEE: Since passenger rail has great potential to strengthen our economy, increase our transportation security, and help alleviate highway and airport congestion, I hope this is an important issue to [INSERT ORGANIZATION NAME]. Congress has recently begun debating the future of intercity passenger rail policy. Therefore, it is important for everyone who supports intercity passenger rail to approach them with a common agenda. To that end, I have enclosed a copy of a document that has become known as ,_The American Passenger Rail Agreement- (APPA). It was finalized in January 2003 by a diverse group of organizations who desire a federal policy framework that will foster the modernization and expansion of America's passenger rail system. The agreement lists three basic principles upon which the signatories believe such a policY should be based. To date, the document has been endorsed by 65 organizations!! including private companies, public .agencies, passenger rail advocacy organizations, and environmental groups. [TAILOR THE FOLLOWING TO THE ADDRESSEE: I should note that organizations such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the States for Passenger Rail Coalition have signed on to the agreement.] We hope that [INSERT ORGANIZATION NAME] will consider becoming a signatory to the Agreement as well as-pass it on to other potential signatories. The campaign is being coordinated by Laura Kliewer of the Council of State Governments, Midwestern Office: 641 East Buttertield Road, Suite 401 Lombard, Illinois 60148 Tel: 630.810.0210, Fax: 630.810.0145 Lkliewer@csg.org Sincerely, MESSAGE TO CONGRESS Statement of Ross B. Capon, Executive Director National Association of Railroad Passengers Submi'tted to the Subcommittees on Aviation and on Railroads' of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure U. S. House of Representatives Planes, Trains, And Intermodalism: Improving The Link Between Air And Rail February 26, 2003 Thank you very much for holding a hearing on this important subject. We generally support the statement submitted by Hank Dittmar of Reconnecting America, and hope the information that . follows will be of furtherxassistance to the Committee. Projects that make ~t easter for travelers~o transfer among different modes of transportation: * give remarkable "bang for the buck" by making existing systems so much more useful; * are still relatively rare because our laws and transportation culture remain dominated by a "stovepipe" or single-mode mentality. A good local example of big value added came when the frustrating walk-or-bus-ride between Metro and Reagan National Airport was replaced with a modern air terminal that incorporated the Metro station. A major reason why airport authorities have not worked harder.to get rail transit links is the perception that such service means reduced parking-fee revenues for agencies that depend heavily on such fees. Nonetheless, the concept of local rail transit airport links now is well accepted'.~ ihhe. IJcS'.; ,vhite tt~ eqnal!y importasit.ldea of Sendlngqnter6ity pass'e~r traim to the airport is barely on the radar screen for many relevant transportation professionals and only exists today at two airports-Newark and Burbank-if we exclude examples like BWI which use inherently unsatisfactory highway links. Quality integration with airports (and airlines via code share) can save billions in unnecessary airport expansion, while making the most efficient use of public investments. For too long, we have focused exclusively on air/mil "competitive" aspects. Investments should he based on a recognition that the air and rail modes should be complimentary. EUrOpe and many other parts of the world are well ahead of the U.S. in this integration. Traim are an appealing part of the American system of transport, and good connections with air may provide a much needed stimulus to the overall travel market. I. TYPES OF AIR-RAIL TERMINALS Broadly speaking, iwo types of rail service can go to airports: * local transit or commuter rail systems, such as Metr6 at Reagan National Airport or SEPTA's commuter rail system at Philadelphia International, can make it easier for airport employees and passengers to travel between the airport and the region's central business district as well as a selection of other locations within the same metropolitan region; and * intercity passenger trains, which can substitute for short air links that are part of a longer journey, and thus can reduce air congestion. With automobiles increasingly replacing short air links since 9/11, intercity rail airport links likewise have a growing ability to reduce land-side congestion as well. The ideal rail station is in the basement of the airport, as in Geneva and Paris/Charles de Gaulle, but stations that are removed yet linked by fixed guideway can be very effective. * Newark: A fixed-guideway people-mover (extension of a remote parking link) connects the air and rail terminals. Initially, Continental staffed a station check-in counter (rail equivalent to curb-side check-in), but with financial pressures this has been abandoned and passengem now must get their hags on the people-mover and into the airport. Lack of rail staffalso presents a challenge for newcomers to Newark trying to figure out whether to ride New Jersey Transit or Amtrak, with sharply different fare levels. Nonetheless the ContinentaFAmtrak code-sharing (the nation's only such agreement) is doing well. It covers rail travel to and fi.om six stations in five states: New Haven, Stamford, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia and Wilmington. Halfway through the first year, Amtrak has realized $120,000 in sales to Continental passengers, exceeding a modest, one-year target of $100,000. BWI Airport Station: The railroad station (unlike the light rail terminal) is distant fi.om the airport terminal and requires reliance on an irregular bus service. Although the airport plans some a fixed-guideway link connecting the terminal with the Amtrak/MARC station (which has excellent rail service), this unfortunately is on the back burner, apparently without a clear timetable for construction. II. EXISTING U.S. AIR-RAIL TERMINALS The number of U.S. airports with rail transit or commuter railroad links (not requiring highway transfer) has grown considerably and now includes: *Atlanta *Baltimore BWI [light rail, not commuter rail] *Chicago (Midway and O'Hare) *Cleveland *Newark *Philadelphia *Portland, Oregon *St. Louis *South Bend * Washington (Reagan National) Two high,prbfile facilitie~a~-Bff~f but:not y~mServ~c~: '7 ..... ~ .... '~ * The February 24 New York Daily News reports that "AirTrain, which will link Manhattan and JFK Airport, with stops in Howard Beach & Jamaica, may be ready by June." * "BART's San Francisco Airport extension remains months away from a grand opening. Agency staff cite minor but numerous incomplete details such as elevator certifications, fare equipment installations and escalator testing.~. [pushing] the opening date toward the end of April at the earliest" (Contra Costa Times, February 14). But the airport's five-mile internal "Air-Train" monorail circulator (which will link with BART) is running ~ The red line [linking the nine terminals and parking garages] began nmning tOday [February 25], and the blue line [extension to rental car center] will be up and running by next Tuesday, [March 4], eliminating 200,000 bus trips to the rental car center a year" (KCBS Radio AM 740, February 25). other notew~hy facilities in the works: * Minne~p0~ ~ have :light rail service between downtown and the airport (and Mall of America) in a couple of years. * Chicago-by triple-tracking segments of existing rapid transit lines to Midway and O~are Airports-plans to develop express service between a downtown airline terminal and those airports. (But see section III for Chicago's most exciting and precedent-setting air-rail plans.) * Miami Intermodal Center is planned to link the airport, commuter rail, and a new east-west Metromil line (already locally funded by ~ cent sales tax - needs federal match). Land has been purchased and cleared. [There has been some talk of Amtrak service coming here as well. This would be excellent. Until then, Amtrak passengers can transfer to/t~om TriRail at Amtrak/TriRail shared stations-Hollywood, Ft. Lauderdale, Deed]eld Beach, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach.] By contrast, only two airports have intercity rail stations: * Burbank * Newark III. PLANS FOR AIRfINTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL LINKS There are, however, serious plans to build other airport stations either intended to, or with the potential to, serve interci~y passenger mil: Chicago, Harrisburg, Milwaukee, Oakland and Providence. The most exciting prospect is at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, where plans have been developed to: * Build a six-track railroad station at the planned Western Terminal. * Emend the existing CTA Blue Line bom its present O~are terminal to the Western Terminal. * Create a major, new hub which would permit Metra/CTA transfers, as well as Metra/Metra transfers. The latter would make practical certain suburb-to-suburb trips on Metra that now require a 34-mile round-trip.to/bom Chicago Union Station, adding an hour or more to trip time. * The planned new railroad terminal at O~Iare's Western Terminal c0uld handle intercity trains, say, traveling from St. Louis to Milwaukee by way of Union Station and O'Hare, it'track capacity issues at Union Station are addressed. * On the railroad side, the immense series of benefits outlined above essentially results fi.om adding just three mil route miles. Fortunately, the City of Chicago incorporated all the track and related requirements into its Airport Layout Plan which was filed with the FAA in late December, and which should insure protection of the needed rightzof-way. Gary, Indiana, plan~ a ng~.-reglnmql-air terminal to he served both by Amtrak and South Shore Line trains. Thus, the nation's last interurban electric railroad, NICTD's South Shore Line, will serve two airports.. (The line's eastern terminal is at South Bend's airport.) In Harrisburg, the planned rail station will he just 150 yards fi.om the air terminal, and the two will he linked by an enclosed, elevated walkway with moving sidewalks. The station will be fully enclosed, so passengers can transfer between train and air terminal with complete protection fi.om rain and snow. Because parking at downtown Harrisburg is difficult, the airport station is expected to become the region's main train station. An opening date target of summer, 2004, announced earlier, now is seen as a bit optimistic. The February 25 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Wisconsin has found "enough money to keep Wisconsin passenger trains running, build a new Amtrak station at Mitchell intemationai Airport ami plan fi!tur~ ¢~a!nuter rail service...Under the 2003-'05 state budget announced last week by Gov. Jim Doyle and the federal appropriations bill approved by Congress on Feb. 13...the state will build a long-discussed station at the airport for Amtrak's Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line. By adding that station to the current stops in downtown Milwaukee, downtown Chicago, Stu~tevant and Glenview, II1, state officials hope to draw more Illinois passengers to Mitchell.. State offielais expect the station to open in 2007, said Randy Romanski, executive assistant to state Transportation Secretary Frank Busaiacchi." Other airports that are close to Amtrak-served lines: Charlotte, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New Orlc~ans and San Diego. IV. USAGE BY AND BENEFITS TO PASSENGERS Simply establishing genuine intermodal terminals brings other benefits to travelers, including those traveling exclusively by traim * Many Amtmk travelers have to use airport rental car facilities and would benefit from an airport rail station even if they are not flying. Car rental agencies at airports tend to have longer operating hours than downtown locations in or near rail stations. And it is a major inconvenience when a traveler needs to go to a loeatiun that is not in a mil station. * Parking often is more plentiful and secure at airports than at rail stations. * Personal security is-or often seems-greater at a joint facility that is heavily used than at a stand-alone mil terminal with relatively infrequent service. * An attractive transfer facility helps make the business case for an airline to do a code-sharing agreemem with a railroad. This is common in Europe. In connection with the Cominemal/Amtrak agreement at Newark (thanks to the new airport station), Continentars interest in good rail access to New York City led the airline to pay $400,000 to rebuild Amtrak's ClubAcela lounge facility in New York's Penn Station (work completed in October 2001). (In return, Continental "President's Club" members get access to that facility when they hold an Amtrak ticket good for same day of traveL) * In what we hope will be a pilot project for improved cooperation between intercity and commuter rail, Amtrak and Metrolink cross-honor each other's tickets for travel between Burbank Airport and both Los Angeles Union Station and Glendale. In addition, for nine months starting January 1, 2003, ride free on any train by showing a Southwest Airlines ticket. Thank you for considering this information. We appreciate the continuing interest of your subcommittees in improving linkages among all types of travel facilities in the U.S. DID YOU KNOW: 'Bombardier' unveled its first 150 per hour non-eleetric high speed rail locomotive. Built with the North American market in mind: The SetTrain locomotive is powered by a jet engine from Pratt & Whitney. Spanish rail equipment manufacturer 'Talgo' breaks diesel speed record with its Talgo XXI train, which reached a speed of 157 miles per hour, breaking the old record of 154 mph twice. Germany has opened a new High Speed line between Frankfurt and Cologne, the most heavily traveled corridor. The $6 billon project reduced time between the two cities from 2 hours 14 minutes to just over an hour. JUST THINK WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO HAVE THESE RUNNING IN 'THE U.S. SINCE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE LEADERS IN THE WORLD!!!! SUPPORTERS PLEASE NOTE. IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID THIS YEARS DONATION FOR A SPECIAL LOCATION OF YOUR BUSINESS OR NAME, PLEASE DO SO NOW AS WE RELY ON YOUR SUPPORT TO GET THE WORD OUT TO ALL THE CHAMBERS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND MAYORS. ANYONE INTERESTED IN HELPING OUR CAUSE TO GET THE WORD TO THESE PEOPLE PLEASE SEND US YOUR DONATION OF $50 AND WE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GOODWILL WITH REST OF OUR SUPPORTS ON THE BACK PAGE. MONTANA/WYOMING association of railroad passengers MTWYarp 2110 Wingate Lane Billings, Montana 59102 406-652-1339 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION RAILROAD PASSENGERS REGION 8 AORTA MTWYarp WashARP ANNUAL MEETING - APRIL 26, 2003 - 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. SHELBY, MONTANA REGISTRATION Name(s): Address: City, St, Zip:- Phone: Alt phone: Representing/Organization: Dinner and meeting will be at Patti's Restaurant directly south from the depot across Highway 2 and facing the depot. The meeting time allows a same day arrival and departure on the Empire Builder if you come from the west. At the Comfort Inn rooms have been set aside for "NARP Region 8" (406-434- 2212). It is located about six blocks west of depot across Highway 2. MTWYarp will meet the train and taxi those who will stay overnight the night of the 25= or 26t'. Reservations must be made prior to April 11 - Single, non-smoking, queen = $44.99 Yes, I will be arriving the 25~ or 26~ on the Eastbound/Westbound Empire Builder. __ Choice of dinner: Roast Beef ; Chicken Fded Steak ; Breaded Veal __ Registration Fee $15.00 Dinner w/gratuity $12.00 Total $27.00 Make checks payable to: MTWYarp and mail to address at the top. Registration should be postmarked by April 18. MT/WY ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS 2110 WINGATE LANE BILLINGS, MONTANA 59102 406-652-1339 iimabiff@earthlink.net NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 471 BILLINGS, MONTANA Mayor, City of Laurel Laurel, Mt 59044 THIS EDITION OF THE OFFICIAL NEWS FOR "MTNVY ARP ' IS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS*WE ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THEM!! WE NEED MORE LIKE THEM. WE NEED MORE TO PAY DUES, OR BE A SPONSOR, OR FIND THEM FOR US. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE NEWSLETTER. PLEASE HELP!IIH! LEWIS TREE SERVICE 225 SHERMAN ROCK SPRINGS, WY 307-382-8675 ACKLEY PAINTING 2009 So 9~ St W. MISSOUI_A, MT 406-728-2178 THE BEANERY BAR & GRILL BILLINGS NP DEPOT COMPLEX 2314 MONTANA AVE BILLINGS, MT 59101 896-9200 RAY HUNKINS OF WYOMING SUPPORTS OUR PROJECT CHICO HOT SPRING RESORT PRAY, MT 590 406-333-4933 DEPOT ENTERPRISES JANEL MADRAZO BUTTE, MONTANA 406-494-4968 TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT LIST HERE NEXT MONTH