DOT’s Foxx Urges Congress to Work With Administration to Pass Transportation Bill

Congress and the Obama administration should work together to pass the president’s proposed $478 billion, six-year reauthorization for transportation funding instead of arguing over the bill, said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx during a Playbook event hosted by Politico.

The proposal provides $28.6 billion in dedicated funding over six years for high performance and passenger rail programs, focusing on improving "connections between key regional city pairs and high traffic corridors throughout the country. " The act also includes $115 billion to invest in transit systems, targeting new projects that improve connectivity, such as light and rail street cars, for expansion.

“We feel very strongly that the country needs to pivot forward to put a substantial injection of financing into transportation funding and also give enough certainty over a longer term, six years, so that we can actually get something done out in the street,” he said in a BNA report. The GROW America Act 2.0 would be funded under a 14 percent “transition” tax on an estimated $2 trillion of untaxed offshore revenue.

Meanwhile, Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) says his proposed infrastructure-tax repatriation plan has more bipartisan support than the administration's GROW America Act. His Infrastructure 2.0 Act (H.R. 625) is a six-year plan that would impose a 8.75 percent tax rate and create a $50 billion infrastructure fund, reports Bloomberg BNA.

Southwest Chief Gets a Reprieve?

Amtrak has announced that it will not terminate the Southwest Chief on January 1, 2016, when its contract with the BNSF Railway for track maintenance expires. The train serves rural communities in western Kansas, southeastern Colorado, and northern New Mexico on its route from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The train remains in jeopardy of ending on January, 1, 2016, but Amtrak announced that it will continue operations as long as it appears political progress is being made to come up with a comprehensive funding solution for necessary track infrastructure upgrades.

Originally, Amtrak officials wanted New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and BNSF Railway to contribute $4 million each a year for 10 years to fund repair and maintenance of 632 miles the of track between Newton, Kansas, and Lamy, New Mexico. Due to aging and deteriorating track conditions, the Chief is often forced to run at speeds well below the optimal speed of 79 mph.

Amtrak was facing significant increases in its costs for repair and maintenance because BNSF no longer runs much freight on the Kansas and Colorado lines and has no freight service on the New Mexico portion of the line.

The initial estimates changed dramatically in 2014, however, when a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant was awarded to Garden City, Kansas. The $12.5 million grant was matched by $9 million from Amtrak, BNSF, and the Kansas Department of Transportation, as well as $360,000 from Colorado and Kansas counties, communities and advocacy groups.

In connection with the grant, BNSF announced that it would cover maintenance costs for the newly repaired segment. This has relieved Amtrak of some of the major maintenance costs it was going to face starting in 2016 and has changed the entire outlook for the train. Repairs on about 45 to 50 miles of track in the worst condition in Kansas and Colorado will be repaired this year.

BNSF has already begun tie replacement at its own expense in anticipation of laying new rail. If the tracks were repaired, the train could operate at maximum speed, cutting travel times, bringing in more riders and improving the route's cost recovery. Following additional repairs, Colorado is hoping enough time can be saved on the schedule to add a stop in Pueblo which would bring the train within 40 miles of Colorado Springs and open an array of new tourism opportunities to Amtrak passengers.

While Colorado and Kansas moved aggressively in 2014 to obtain a federal grant and allocate money for repairs on their sections of the Southwest Chief’s tracks, New Mexico didn’t follow suit. In 2014, Gov. Susana Martinez (R) funded a $150,000 study of the Chief’s costs and benefits. Recently, the New Mexico Department of Transportation announced that it will attempt to seek a TIGER grant for repairs, improving the prospects for three state collaboration on a solution. BNSF, which owns the tracks that the Southwest Chief has not yet commented on the recent news.

NARP Mountains and Plains Division Leader Jim Souby is still concerned about the fate of the train. “Recent exaggerated news reports that the train has been `saved’ hurt our efforts. We have an uphill struggle ahead of us and these news reports came right as we were seeking support from the Colorado General Assembly,” he said. “This is already a long, hard campaign and we need to continue our efforts until we actually save the train. More time is fine, but the time is now!”


Oregon DOT Fights to Fund Cascades Service Amid Proposed Budget Cuts

The debate over how to fund the continuation of the Cascades service continues as Oregon’s state budget panel has cut by more than 50 percent a request for $10.4 million to continue the twice-daily roundtrip service between Portland and Eugene for the biennium, starting July 1. Unless the money is restored, the Oregon Department of Transportation will notify Amtrak to begin the discontinuance process as early as July.

Former Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) included $10.4 million in the budget to keep the Cascades route, which runs from Eugene to British Columbia, running. But state legislators slashed that by more than half, leaving only $5 million for passenger rail. Although Gov. Kitzhaber resigned in February, his successor, Gov. Kate Brown (D) is believed to support rail.

ODOT Assistant Director Travis Brouwer said it would very likely not be enough to keep the Cascadesroute operating, and it was a "distinct possibility" it would have to close, reports the Statesman-Journal. The Cascades train covers routes including two daily round trips between Eugene and Portland and between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., and four daily round trips between Portland and Seattle.

Under the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, states are being required to fund routes under 750 miles, like the Cascades. Oregon faces a $28.1 million deficit to cover the operating costs, according to the state’s budget report.

“The important thing for NARP members, especially those in Oregon, to know is that the hearing described above is not the end of the process,” said Mike Morrison, director at large for the Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates. “Pro-rail contact with legislators is still timely and worthwhile, and that there is still a reasonable chance of preserving the service intact if lawmakers keep hearing affirmative voices.”

A video on the issue, reported on by KOIN-TV, can be seen here.


Riding the Rails with Rep. Tonko

A big reason why U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) is such a big supporter of rail travel is because he uses Amtrak to commute between his district in Albany, N.Y., and Washington, D.C.

“When I’m in the district it’s like being on a treadmill. And when I’m in D.C. it’s like being on a treadmill,” Tonko said in an interview with the Post-Star. “And so the five hours of rail time that’s required, it enables me to have one stretch of transportation time.”

Tonko says his rail commute is convenient and makes a policy statement. “It’s the most energy efficient form of travel,” he said. “I’m a big fan of bringing together all the disciplines of policy, not to silo our thinking, but to network it and weave it.”

He is among those in the House of Representatives supporting the Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act.


Massachusetts Governor Mulls Talks to Extend Commuter Rail to S. New Hampshire

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) is interested in talking about expanding commuter rail into southern New Hampshire -- but at a later date, reports the Nashua Telegraph.

During a visit to Nashua, Baker said he first needs to look at mass transit needs in his own state before exploring the feasibility of a new commuter line into southern New Hampshire.


Plans Advance to Extend Indiana's South Shore Line

Plans are well advanced to build a Hammond-Dyer extension (branch) from the South Shore Line which would also serve locations in downtown Hammond.

Rep. Hal Slager's bill, HB 1618, that would help secure funding for the new line has successfully navigated the Indiana House.

But the bill faces a steep uphill battle in Indiana's Senate Appropriations Committee. Please tell your senator that you strongly support this important effort -- Northwest Indiana desperately needs to extend the reach of its South Shore Line to improve its economy, which will benefit from making it easier for people to reach good-paying jobs in Chicago.

This link will tell you who your state (and federal) legislators are.

Writing to your own state senator is the most important:
Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee members.

Here is contact information for the chairman, Senator Luke Kenley:
Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9400
Email: [email protected]
Legislative Assistant: Mitchell Osterday; Phone: 317-232-9453


Rail Service Between Tulsa, Oklahoma City Is Delayed

The first passenger rail trip between Oklahoma City and Tulsa will miss its late April start, instead starting by early summer, reports Tulsa World. The trains will be run on tracks owned by Watco Cos. and served by Iowa Pacific Holdings. Fares will start at $20 for the three-hour trip.

Passengers will be offered shuttle service to the train station in Sapulpa, and will have access to a website and mobile-phone platforms to check train times and buy tickets. The train will offer food and beverage service and wireless Internet access.

The partners will work on line improvements and wait for service approval from the Federal Railroad Administration.