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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMT Association of RR Passengers MAR 6 y (; !: MONTANA association of railroad passengers - MARP 2110 Wingate Lane Billings, Montana 59102 Dedicated to retaining, improving, and increasing Railroad Passenger service in Montana Below ate some of the ~ails I~nt Io t~e ~ ~l.~tmes duri~ ~he~ ~l~t~mmlex~.mm~l~_ ahn :_~ ~ved ~ o&~ so~ ~d ~ ~ to ~e ~. I ~ve 75 of&m ~ ~ mil adam fold~ ~ ~y l~sla~. I ~ ~ ~e C~i~ Feb~ 15 talking to ~ many ~ ~ble ~lu~g ~e H ~, ~ of &e Semte ~d ~ ~H~ ~ to &e ~ ~ B ~. I ~ ~y ~cmscd ~t ~ ~ffid ~ a~Hs~ ~ ~ssio~ b~ ~ p~s~ o~ ~ c~ to ~ ~mmi~ 8~d ~ ~ ~ ~y ~d ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~l~ to ~ a ~1 of ~t is ~ing. ~en make ~mc ~ ~ yo~ ~msen~v~ ~ ~1~ ~lllng ~ of~ ~ of~ ~deavo~. We ~ 1~ of ~ ~m ~yo~, Commission, ~am~, HO~ Admlni~, Uffive~i~/Coflege ~side~ and m~ of~W ~ ~d o~ sent to ~em ~ Hel~ I ~ ~ if a 1~ is ~ pl~e ~ve ~ a copy so ~ ~ ~ ~e ~e F~ally ~ ~ pl~ a ~ ~ o~ S~ Te~, ~e ~v~or, Lt ~v~or, ~ of~ hom~, ~b~ ~ A~. ff ~nc ~ ~ ~ ~ding ~e 1~ m ~ow, ~d pl~e ~d ~ mo~ ~ to ~ ~ k~ ~ ~o~a~on S~ ~ 14 1 ~ ~I~o, ~e M~sna ~ve o~ ~ ~ ~. ~ is m~t ~ ~ve a no~so~ l~e ~m ~ to ~ We ~ ~ a ~e ~ S~ ~ ~ ~ I ~e a ~ ~ a man ~ ~ ~t ~d l~e ~ help ~ a l~c ~ ~n ~ S~lby~ F~Billin~-~. 2. v~ ~ 13 ~s ~ Nov 7, ~ ~ien f~ n~ ~ ~d ~ ~ d~ ~ot me~ ~ work on ~ ~o~ i~. 3 S~ ofWa~hln~ ~ b~ 108 ~1~ of~k ~ ~ W~m T~ y~ ~o ~y ~ 200 ~ of~k ~ $6.5 mHl~ J~s C ~ ~nt Sent: Thmsday, $~muary 18,2007 1:39 PM subjece aaxnitang bins IT IS OBI'lING LATE, SO WE URGE YOU TO INTRODUCE THREE BILLS OR GET SOMEONE TO DO IT. 1. TO (IET THE ~IGHT OF WAY & TRACKS' REPAIRED BETWEEN GREAT FALLS AND HELIRqA THEN CREATE A TOURIST/DINNER TRAIN USIN(I RDC CARS LIKE THE ONES USED OUT OF LEWISTOWN ON THE CHA_RI .h-~ RUSSFJ CHOO CliO0. 2. TO PURCHASE RDC CARS OR S~ TO RUN ON CORR/DORS - TWO TO CONNECT WITH THE EMPIRE BUILDER (Bff I .~qGS TO SHELBY AND MISSOULA TO SANDPOINT ID) AND THE OTHERS FROM RURAL AREAS TO HUB CI'I1ES WITH A THREE YEAR AMOUNT SET ASIDE TO RUN THEM UN'IlL MONEY RECEIVED FROM THESE SERVICES CAN BE BUILT. 3. TO CREATE A COMMISSION OR COMMI'ITEE TO WORK ON THESE PROJECTS AND KEEPIN(l THE LEGISLATURES OF BOTH HOUSES, THE RAILROADS, THE GOVERNORS OFFICE, THE MONTANA DOT AND THE PUBI~C INFORM~.I'} OF THE WORK BEIN(I DONE TO S~ RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE FOR THE CITIZENS OF MONTANA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BILL, SB 294, WHICH WILL I-mT.p CREATE CORRIDOR TRAINS. lames C Green, Pmsideat Montana Association of Railroad Passenger. Scot Friday, Januapj 19, 2007 7:44 PM Subject: FACTS I know that the de~llln e has passed for drafting new lngislalion, but if I understand our system there are ways to put on mneudm=u~ Io ~m~ffiliated bills, and to approprin~e resources for a specific i~em when appropriation time comes. The that remaina that if you want sofllething bed enotlgh ~ ate ',vaFs to achieve that goal. We gafl~red 14,000 si40mtures of Mcotana citizens who want more peascogor rail service. Now ascardln~ to the latest figures rider ahip mi Amtrak for 2006 will be I/PA higher ~han 2005. ~ that 500 mom passenger cars were either built or remodeled over the 2005 ligore of 1205 to 1705. Tbe way we a'e going in Montana is thc price will be doubled when we wake up to the fact that fa/1 passengor sen4ce is pert ofpublic transportation and is going to be the standard in the future because of sa~, security, reliability, and convenience. Another fact is that the California Zephyr was not stopped in Colorado because of weather as was the airlines :md highway travel. James C Greca, Pr~id~t Montana Asso~tion of Railioad Pass~g~rs T McGillvmy Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 2:31 PM Subject: railroads I und~stand you and A1Nonnan'from Butte have a biff on hold called 'Revised Railroad Law' which I thln~ could be as~d to ellCOll:lpass what w~ ar~ tIy/ng to ascomplish in s~Jng coFt/der ~rein; YOU could put as part ofyanr bill that ll~ State ahonld be a driving linec in seUln~/he standards for "Railroad ~ Service on Corridor Routes". This would be a beEifrmin~ for the s~mte to be among the sla~s with the vision for the fuawe and taking the responalbility to ensure the safety and security of Wavei on Public Transport~co. Tbequul/tyofLIFF-forourci~/zcasisthepustlmpor~tgoalforourlawn~kers. Remembefing that IF is in tbe middle of L1FE, so IF we get started now wc can achieve one part of this goal. We are among the top five states with highway dea~h~ which can be changed with this goal in mind. Our ability to ~ravel by air gets less and less each year, but we can chanEe all of this IF wa ~ put our minds cod hea~s to the ~aslL James C Green, President Mootana Association of Railroed Passengers Monday, January 22, 2007 3:00 PM Subject: passenger rail Dedicated to Retainln$ Imp, Oving, :md Increasing Railroad Passenger setwlec in Montana Our Mission Statement above does not reflact the objectives and goals we have set for our organization. Some have been set aside and some are new since we first got organized. We believe that passenger rail sowiec is a part ofpubllc h-ansportafion and should be for all of Montanans to give them a better quality of LIFE. Poor air service in the state and the high amoum of highway fatalities adds up to the need for bet~, safer, sec~e, reliable transpooatlon - Passenger Rail Service. 1. Om' first obj ec~dve was to organize the people in Montana who wanted to got another route established in the state. 2. Therefore w~ decided that a route between Spokane and Denver via Missonla, Helena, Bozeman, Livingston, Biflings and WyomluE would be ideal. We did not seem to got the people in WyomlnE motivated, but for a short time. 3. We thco felt that Spokane - Bitlings would be a great plase to get established. _ _ 4. Because of tho cost of a whole new consist, we then said we could achieve our goal if we could have three exira ca~ (day, sleeper, dinner) added to the Empire Builder, then have it split in Fargo with one confim~in5 along the mute of the Bu/lder and the other going to Billln~s to Spokane as slated in goal #2. Then in Spokane they could have one go to Portland (the North onnsis0 and th~ other to Seattle (the south consist). Goals #3 and//4 have not been abandon. It is a mst~r which can be done. 5. We also have in mind that when these goals are achieved thco a route from Edmonton to ~ should be addressed. This is a harder project as we need to work more states as well as Canada. There are people in Canada ready to help. 6. With the onset of corrldor trains and the Federal government puffing money aside fur these types oflnmscoger stn'vice, we feel that couidor trah~ of one or two RDC type ca~ could be accomplished if the state would work with us. The following routes are what we targeted as being our goals: (a) ~-Lulo (b) Missoula/Polson (c) Missoula/Helena (d) Billin/p/Helana (e) Billingr~Iardin (0 BillinEs/Miles City-Glenflive (g) Billings/Bridger (h) Billin~s/Shelby and (DMissoula/Scodpoint, Id. James C Green. President Montana Association of Railwed Passengers sent January 23 1 understand yon people have transportation bills on hold. yous have received emails l¥om me askinE for some legislation on the effot~ ous o ~r~ni~,fion is trying to achieve. I know it would lake a lot of fortitude to attempt such a thinE as ere~ng legislation that would increase the quality of life of Montana Citizens. ~ those Montana citizens (over 15,000) that we know of, ~hat want bettor Frae Flow:. U.S. bedggting for tmusportafion ~eems to be onusually snbjeut to flights of fiction By Don phillips for Iutgrnafional Herald Tn'bm~ WASHINGTON An odd political d~mee takes place every year when the U.S. president submits his budget to Congress. Often it is diffi~llt to sep~rato fact fium political fiction, evea wben budget l~uposais are written in secmlnsly clear language. The pl~ide~t tnetely laovoaes a budget, but actual gow, muant speadlnS is h...,,,er~d out by Congre~ over the next seve~l month~. In son~ yearn, portions of thc budget are never passed by Congress, with lawmal~s merely agreeing to continue speadln~ for stone functions at last ye~s level. On= portion of the bud~e~n_.o fune~on ~ should be clef and tm~,~l;,nrlahle, ~on, a~ma to be unusu~ subj~t to flights officaon. An ~,,1= is highway spendinS, which se(nns to involve m~ive ~noon~ of moncy until the cold light of ~ ili~m~inm~s it as ss~y Only ~n~atly ha; th= Unitod Stat~ ev=a b~gon to publicly aclmowledg= sonv~]~g that Etmpo has ol~ly ;ought to ;e~olv¢ for a decad= or mor~ - tbut six.dinE fer all fo~as of tran~t~oflafion must tis~ rapidly. Oth~wise, th= L~-O ~corlomy a~d mobl]ity itseifwli] be in dan~. . ____To b~ _su~, h;~ ~sh?~YS~ ond a~'on axe_ ~gutfing_a to_bust allpcafi_on of fun~ds,~as ~o_~._~t~ ~t ~ of _ transl~on - rail - appeass to be gctti,S short shr~ Unlike Emo~, the U.S. lmasanger train syste~n is quito mall except Inr the WanhlnEton-NOW Yo~-l~toll coll~dor. But ~ ustion~s main passenger rail ~, sends to attra~ far mote pubic ~on each yca~ tl~m mm~y mol~ ~ budget fl~oos. Consider this scriss of confu~ng Amtmk budget events over thc last month: Alex Knmm~nL Amlrak's now president, s~n~sed even his own board ofdi~cto~ by proposing a major inhouse in gove~t fundins to add nt-~v l~Jl routes aeross thc country. That mnoh bus been/~pofled in fllis column. But now t~*s mor~ ~ Democrals in Congress p~ huge Amtrak budget inercuses, mo~ than K*,,,,,,,~ sugg~ Vtqicn ~ Dcmoeratic-controiled House of Representatives gave up on this ycas's lrausport~don budget, agreeing to simply cun~nt budget levels, the House d~d a~ to a Sl~cial major inercasc in highway funding. Amtrak, however, got last ye~'s Iow budget level of $1.3 5iflion, far leas than the $1.8 billion that evea its conservative bumd said was President C~ W. B~'s proposed 2008 ~ just roi~d, w~d cut Amttak*s budget to $800 million, an amount that som~ oSscrvers fc~r could lead to a sbutdown of the systmu. The Bush budget, bewm, or, talked as ffthat amount would be plenty if Ama,ak simply carried out unspe~ed "r~orms? Ross CaPon, head of~hc passangcr edvocacy group lqatloanl Assneiation of Railmed passengers, let his ~ with thc ~ we understand that the path of least res~tsn~ in quickly disposing of fiscal 2007 issues is to ignore thc Amtrak board's request, tlmt does nut make this gand policy,* Capon said. It is even ~ aplmllln~ that criticism of th~ Holme's ~ ~ber as 'excessive* was ~ only lral~ml 1~ in th~ Bush admlnin~-a~on*$ lcllgthy po]icy st~ on ~ rcsointioIL*/~trak is only on~ example Of thc clash I~ ~ adminln~% poliCy oflmlding the linc on taxes, and the counters Io~mi~ ttansportsfion crisis. Impo~aut ~ ofth~ Bush 9dmlni~ration arc ca~fill to avoid mention of major new expcndito~s o£ federal moil~ for Jcff~? Shone, tbe Tnmsl~on D~cnt*s No. 3 official, and one of its mote res]~ problem-solvers, told a congressional bearing in late Janoaty that by 2050. f~cight and passenger (~msportafion needs wan]d be 250 percent greater. But thc calmcity of~h~ highway system is likely to grow by only I 0 pc~:~ut. E,nm with new tcclmology, this will be i-~quate, be said. "We can anfic~pat~ that Irausportsfion capacity will not ke~p up with transporlafion demand, and that congestion in oor lxansl~on Shane did not n~on one- soiutlan, now ~. Instead, lac was lcfl to l~ediut inea~aslng co~ts to thc economy. Just as clearly, any real solutions must bu left to futorc governmcats. Washin~on, D.C.-Thc Fiscal 2007 confin,ln~ resolution passed by the House Wednesday conanmts sharply ~ teday*s report on climnt¢ chancre. On one lmnd, I-LJ. Rcs. 20 freezes Amtntk at fiscal 2006's $1.294 billion. This is: * $304 million Or 19% below Amb'~'s ~qisi~* rCq~ of $1.598 billion, and * $579 million Or 31% below Amtrak*s full ~cqucst of $1.873 bfliion [see note at bottom]. Amt~'s rc~ wc~ developed by a board of dltnetors composed cxcinsively of Republicaus appointed by Prcsideut Bush; Democrat, 1L Hontor Bidcn, joined the board later, on July 26. Thc House also has-and thc Senate likely will approve-a $3.532 billion or 9% increase in federal highway flmding. On the bright side, tll~l~it gets a boost of $480 milllo~. The continuing resolution must be enacted by Fetnna~y 15 to avoid shutting down much of the goveaa~aenL According lo Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Amtrak is 18% and 17% mom energy efficient per passonge~-mile than airlines and cam, respectively. (A passongor-mile is one paascog~ Wavellng one mile.) On the other hand, ~he world's top cllmato snieagiists relx~t a 90~ probability that bmnan agtivilie~ have c, anggd most of the easth's Wat,,,ing in th~ ~ 50 y~al~. They foresee tcanperature increases this eentmy that could put as m~ny as four billion mom people at risk of serious water shortages, and sea levels rising from 7 to 23 inches or more, covering land occupied by millions of people, especially in south and east Asia. One of the scientists, Paul Valdes, professor of physical geography at the University of Bristol CO-K.), said "it is pussible to reduce our emissions without endanEering the economy or chall~ng ocr way of life but we must start to sat now" (today's Financial Times). NARP Executive Di~ctor Ross Capon said, "While we undemand that the pa~ oflcaat resistmge in quickly disposing of Fisen12007 issues is to igoo~ the Amtrak board's request and comply with the 'guarantees' in SAFETEA-LU, that does nut make this good policy, it is not'acfiag now.' ~It is even mom apl~lling that criticism of the House's Amlrak nlmlber aa 'excessive* wag the oIfly trausporlation referenee in the Bush .~ dminlsCaation's lengthy policy statement on the resolution. It will be interesting to see how the Admlnigtralioa halldie~ these issues in Monday's budget release, pm-ticulurly in light of projections that the Highway Trust Fond could be $9 billion in the red during Fiscal 2009. As fider~aip growth on lllinois's new Amtmk trains shows, Americans need tmaaportafion policy that ~ them mom choices and does not ius~asingly confine them to ce~. By tiffs measure, the first, post-election transportation results from Capitol ~ om not goo~' Meanwhile, in the U.K_, ahpert departure tsxes c~oubled yesterday. BBC said this was "because [Chancellor oftl~ Exchequer] Gordan Brown says airlines should pay more for damning the environment." Brown, according to Reuters, "said the extra money will pay for public lrauspurt and onvironmcotal measures.' [Amlrak's higher, $1.873 billion request for this year, included four "strategic investment inifi'"'""~ves~--$100 million each for a U.S. DOT-odminigtered state cerridor development program and for Amtrak debt reduction; $50 million to help freight railroads address ~chokepoints' that cause delays; and $25 million for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.] About NARP NARP is the only national orgeniTafion speakinE for the usem of paesonger traln~ and rail transiL We have worked since 1967 to expand the quality and quantity of passenger tall in the U.S. Our mission is to work towards a modem, cnslomer-focaaed national passeng~ train network that provides a travel choice Americaas wanC Our work is supported by over 22,000 individual memb~s. To NARP Members, January 31,2007 (1) The Hottse today passed its continuing resoludon for Fiscal 2007 fu~lin g. The bill, H. J. Res. 20, would give Amlssk $1 ~.94 billion, while increasing f~ieral highway ~ by $3.532 billion (about 9%) and increasing transit by $480 mHllon. The latter two figures om consistent with_ tbeguarantees in the SAFETEA-LU law. Obviously, the Amtmk figure is a si~ificaut improvcmont over tbe $1.1billion level that Amlrak has been ge~g under previous contin,ing resolutions, but still falls short of what the Amirak Board requested. That bourd, composed entirely ofPresidont Bush's appointees and, at the lime, entirely of Republicans-made a "basic" request of $1.598 billion, while ootllnlng $275 million in ahatogic invesUnent initiatives, for a total of $1.873 billion. Unsmprisingly, the Bush Adminisirafion's Office of lVla~nEemeat and Budget-in their only comments on lranspo~an-devoted an entire paragraph to labeling the Amtrak funding "excessive" and iminuofing that this "undermines any incentive for the railroad to exercise fiscal discipline." Clearly, a freeze at $1.294 billion leaves Amlrak in a very fight spot with liRle leeway for noexpeetod problems, and leaves no money with which DOT could partner with states on investments to further improve the system. The shove-referonecd strategic initiatives included $100 milliou for th~ latter purpo~. The Sonate bes two weeks to finish the process. (2) Yesterday I was intgrviewed on Am11Rk by Benjmnin Shaw, a repori~ with CapilolNewsCon~ection, who is shoppin~ the iutol'¥igw to We, st Vi~*nia Pflblic Radio, WYPR in ]~ltilRore, KUT ill AIiSlill al~ uthgr Texas stations, and probably some California stations. We'd be iutemated in hearing from anyone who hears this-the interview is expected to go out to the stations "ister this week or early next." Possibly they would use it in eonno~ion with Monday's release of President Bnsh's -Ross B. Capon, Execmive Director, NARP public ffaaspodafion of rail passenger service would sage be the ones you could count on in 2009. Quality of LIFE should not be a political ball, but a conscience effort to help file ever growing populalic~ of senior citizens as well as the disabled and those waol~n~ mleducafionatomst~teinsiitutionsofhlgherlearnln~ IplanonbelnginHd~atodiscu~sa~yofthisonFcb 16. Iwouldsuroh~c to meet with so~e ofyou or address a committee or whatever can be done. I just c~nn~t ge~ tho'e sooller. James C Green, President Montana Associsfioa of Railroad Passenge~ sent Jnnuary 27 Acc~h.~ to a arl~cle I just rend, railroads (passen~ger and fp~4ght) have been hampered by polit~csnn~ (~ ~d ~) ~ ~ 1950's~ Acc~llng to the w~iter the last couple ofyea~ state poiificiam have been stepping up, t9kin~ the ~0Rll by gctilug things done for their citizens. R is also a fact them ~-e slates where very little acfion has been done or even a~p~ And ~aere are slmes where attempls on behnff of freight causes or i~ns have occun-ed. In 2006 there has beon a ~n-go on behalfof l~SSengor service f~m state lawmnker~. In Montm~ Amirak has mmounc~ a program to upgrade d~x~ts along lhe route of the To Tester and Baucus Have you signed on as a co-sponsor? This is an 'important' bill that we do not ~rdnt to loose. Me~a~ fi~m T~*tor that he in~aa~l his ~affto got him on as a co-~a~or. .lame~ C G-r~m To Lany B~lermt HOw is it going g~ing the Mayors on board to got their communilies to wo~ on ~ ~o~. I think I ~m ~ ~ ~ pl~ m upgrade all stations and is using the Empire Builder stations as a start ffl didn~ let me know and I will send. Thee is another project started by Amlrek (no fmulln~ and supported by a group called "Tempo- i believe. I do not know the parliculms, but Bany Green from Glgndive, a NARP member and a engineer on BHSF will probably be calling you about it. James C Greon In response to emailn flora Bob Ebing~r and J P Ponmichowski ~ Bozema. ~ they wanted to help .................. ff you ~ would like m help then seek out Tim McGilvray, Ron Erickson, Jill Cohenour, Art Noonan; alld DRv© l~pi~ who all have 'on-hold' drafts relating to Railroads.. We need some positive ac'don on this is~oe. I would suggest two firings that must be done this session for m to move forward. I. A resolution that both houses agree that something must be done to increose passenger ~rain service ~ ~ ~. it ~ ~ ~ tmlns lh~n one city to another with stops to p/ckup and delive~ people to and flora mml ~ to ~ ~fi~ ~ ~ ~ ~, 2. Authmizaffon to have a commi*tee or commission to work on this project. Memb~ would be from both houses of the Lcgislatu~, James C (been, Presktcnt Montana Associ~on ofRR Passenge~ To legislatures plus Dick Turner, Axt poole Feb 2 The Small City alld Rural Fund - 5311 is wailing for something ~o go forth from the MoP,ann lawmakers regarding mit trains. The Feds will match Capitsl ~ c~aditur~ uP to 2~/~ of cost and Ol~mtional cxl~nditu~ up to 50%. This is another oppommity for tl~ citizeas of Montana to ~n~ive tim quality of LIFE status from tier legislatures. Who is going ~o step forward and James C Gre~ President Momana Association of RR Passengers To NARP Memben, Jnnuaxy 31, 2007 (1) The House today passed its c, omln,~inE resolution for Fiscal 2007 llmdin~ The bill, It. J. Res. 20, would give / $1.294 billion, ~ incr~gln~ ~ hi,away 5pendln~ by $3.532 billion (about 9%) and increasing Iransit by $480 million. T~ latter two figores am consistem wlth the guarantees in the SAFETEA-LU law. Obviously, the Amtrak figure is a si~ifie~nt impro~e.m~at ov~ the $I .lbillion leved ~ Amlrak has been getting tmd~r previous continuing resolutions, bm still falls short of what the Arab"ak Board requested. That board, composed entirely of President Bush's appointees and, at ~ time, entirely of Republicans-made a ~oasic" request of $1.59g bimmg while outlining $275 millloo in slralegic inves~nent initiatives, for a total of $1.873 billion. Unsurprisingly, the Bush Adminislrafion's Office of Management and Budget-in their only comments on transporlalioa-devoted an entire paragraph to labeling the Amtrak funding "excessive" and insinuating that this "unde~nines any incentive for ~he railroad to exercise fiscal discipline.° Clearly, a fleeze at $1.294 billion leaves Amtrak in a very fight spot with liRle leeway for unexpected problems, and leaves no money with which DOT could partner with states on investments to further improve the syst~x The above-referenced :~hateglc initiatives included $100 million for th~ lalter ~. The Senate has tn~ weeks to finish lhe process. (2) Y~grday I was inte~iewed on Ammak by Benjamin Shaw, a ~ with CapitolNewsConnecfion, who is shopping the ilRgrvigw to West V'ff~i~'nia P~lbli¢ Radio, WYPR in Baltimore, ICOT in Austin and offer Texas stations, and probably some Califu~ala atafions. We'd be interested in heating fi~om anyone who hears this-the in~adew is expected lo go out to the s~Aons "later this week or early next." Possibly they would use it in colmection with Monday's release of President Bush's budget. This is the type ofinfmmation that could be used in a committee or commission as I ha~ ~ ~ ~ f~. The state must keep up with what is going on in other s~-mtes, in the ~teral level as well as in other countries. Jmnes C ~ Subject: FW: ~ Railroad Administration News Release: Administration's Rail Safety Rcauthorlzalion Bill-Tran.,aniRcd to Congless U.S. Deparlment of Tmnsporiafion Office of Public .~tVairs Washln~olg D.C. Federal Government Will Regulate Railroad Hems of Seorice and Increase Focus on Safety Risk Reduction, Under the Administration's Proposed Rail Safety Legislation For the first time ever lhe Fedend Railroad Administration (FRA) will have authority to regulate railroad worker ho~s of service and will pix)vide greater focus on risk rc'ducli on to improve satbty in the milload industry under a tall safety reaulhori~ztlon bill submill~d to the Congress today, announced FRA Adminislrator ~oseph H. Boardman. "We must embrace new methods and strategies to further reduce ti~ nmnber of accidents in the mil indust~," Boardman said. ~ailroads must be more accountable for the safety of their opemfioos and rail employees need work schedules that reduce ~ligue and promot~ safety," h~ addend, noting that the bFtl will reauthorlze the federal mil safety program th~t~ogh 2011. Boardm~n said the FRA proposal will replace railroad hom~ of service laws, first enacted in 1907, with comprehensive, scientifically based regulations to address the serious issue of worker fatigue. The laws, which set the maximum on-duty or mlnlnaua off-duty hom~ for train crows, dispatchers, and siEnal main~dners varuld nowbe set by the FRA, much like hours of services standards am set for airline pilo~s and 1tuck drive~. Under the proposal, frae FRA Railroad Safety Advisory Commlt~ee, made up of railroad mznagemellt, labor igpresentatives al:id other key stakeholdem, will review the issue and develop recommendations on new hems of sg~vice limits bose. d on cun~R, sound science before any changgs at~ made. To achieve additional safety improvements, the proposal also will supplement ~radi~ional safgty efforts with the ~ablishment of risk redltlgtioll prograll~, Boardman explaingd. FRA will plac~ in~r~sed emphasis on developing m~thods to sys~malically safety risks in order m hold railroads more accountable for improvin~ the safety of their own operations, ine, luding risk m~nagom~nt slral~gies md implementing plans to eliminate or minlmi~e the oppor tmlity for workers to make errors which c~an result in accid~nL4. Oth~r provisiom in th~ proposal include requiring sta~s and railroads ~o update the National Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Invento~ on a regular basis to ensure current information is available for ha~rd analysis in dete~mlni~g wh~re fede~l safe~ im~ funding is directed. In addition, the proposed legislation would expand the authority of the FRA to disquali~ any individual as for saf~y-sensillve service for violation of federal regulations related to transporting ba?~rdous materials, among other items. Febmmy 6, 2007 WASHINGTON - The National Association of Railroad Passenge~ commen~:d on President Bush's proposed fc. deral bud~t released yesterday, calling it a 'q)ig disappoinm~ent" and "yet another departure f~om reality." The .A dmini,,h alien's recommended Amtrak funding level is $800 million, which is actually down $100 millioll flora last yea~s request, At that funding level, Amtrak service would likely disappear. The President's budget also mnkes no ptov~on for Amlrak's debt service needs of rouEh~ $300 millloll. The Adminls~41on did not fulld debt sglvice last year either. Amlrak has ~aken Oll i1o ~ dgbt ~ Jung 2002 and has paid offabout $400 milllo~ since ~ NARP Executive Director Ross Capon said in a news release about Bush's budget that: "Once again, passeoger mil advocates look to Capitol Hill to dramatically improve on the White House's mmspomUion proposal and views. The real message of th~ budget reque~ is ~nft after six year~ of being on the Amtrak Boagd 8Rd ~legtillg board memb~rs, begomin~o mo~e intimately fomillar with Amtrak'$ needs, and obs~ri~ the good wolk that has been accomplished, they still don~ get it." National Association of Railroad Passengers - Region 8 All Aboard Washington Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates Montana Association of Railroad Passengers Saturday March 17, 2()07 in Tacoma, 11:15 AM-4:45 PM Best Western Tacoma Dome Hotel 2611 East E Street, Tacoma WA 253-272-7737 Hotel is in downtown Tacoma. Use Exit 133 from I-5, follow signs to Tacoma Dome, exit and turn right on 26~' St. to hotel From Seattle, Sound Transit Route 594 takes you to Tacoma Dome Staiton, about three blocks from hotel. Transportation from/to the Amtrak station for trains 500/509 & 11/516 will be provided or you can walk the half mile to the hotel. Featured S .pe.~_ kers U. S. Sen. Patty Murray Chairman - Transportation and Housing Appropriations Subcommittee (Inv~d) Mr. Scott Witt Freight Multimodal Manager Washington State Dept. of Transportation Mr. Jonathan Hutchison Director of Government Affairs Amtrak Mr. David Johnson A~istantDirector NARP Other presentations will include: · King St. Station restoration project by Ron Shesk · Leavenworth Station update by Ren Eaton · Reports from the slate rail advocacy groups Mee'dng time: Registration and social hour begins at 1 t :15 AM. Luncheon and presenta0ons: 12:15 to 4:45 PM Emly Registration Fee: $39 Buffet Luncheon will be served: four salads, fresh fruit, assorted deli meats and cheeses, rolls, vegetables, potatoes, fresh salmon with masted red popper hellandaise, hmbed breast of chicken and assorted deserts. Overnight Accommodations: To reserve a room call the hotel at 253-272-7737, call Best Western at 800-780-7234 or visit www. bestwestem.com. Rates start at about $95. The regi=~u[ion fee includes lunch, room rental and other meeting expenses. For allmgistratlons postmerked after More Information: Call or emaJl Lloyd Flem at March 7p/esse a~.~gh~'~eto/he_abovefee~ __ 360-943-8333 (washarp~olywa. net); or Jim Hamre at ~ 253-848-2473-(jim-horn re@mindepring.com~- -- I (We) will attend the luncheon. (Please indicate number of people attending.) I (We) am making an additional donation of $ to defray meeting expenses (tax deductible). I (We) can't attend but will donate $ to defray meeting expenses (tax deductible). Total Enclosed $ Name(s) Address City/State/Zip Phone (include area code). Email Please mall this form and your check or money order to: All Aboard Washington, PO Box 70381, Seattle WA 98127. The registration fee of $39 as noted above is for early registrations postmarked by March 7. After March 7, please Include the $10 surcharge. See you in Tacoma on Saturday March 17. Thanks for your support.