Hotline #964

NTSB Findings on Train 188; CHSRA Receives Grant Extension; NARP Intern Travels Across U.S. by Rail

May 20, 2016

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its investigative findings regarding Amtrak Train 188, which derailed last May. The results of the investigation state that the Amtrak engineer was mostly likely distracted by radio discussions regarding an emergency situation on a different train that was stuck by rocks. Due to that emergency radio traffic, the engineer lost track of where he was and did not realize the train was heading into a curve with reduced speed limits. Train 188 d

Hotline #963

One Year Anniversary of Amtrak 188; Potential Delays for Gateway Tunnel; Economic Boost from HSR in Texas

May 13, 2016

A year ago on May 12, Amtrak Train 188 derailed outside Philadelphia. Eight people died and 200 hundred were injured in the tragic accident. It was a moment in time that changed the way the public and government agencies view passenger rail, and it forced people to closely look at appropriate funding for railroads and infrastructure, as well as technologies, like Positive Train Control (PTC), that could improve safety and prevent unnecessary tragedies. The country’s transportation infrastructu

Hotline #962

Fixing Bottleneck in NEC; NYC Ridership Surges; States Looking for Private Funding of HSR

May 6, 2016

Efficiency, timeliness and modern infrastructure are critical for rail services and their passengers - whether commuting between only a few stations, or traveling long distances through multiple states. It’s no surprise that if trains regularly run late, are overcrowded, and constantly need repair, passengers may look to other forms of transportation for their needs, leaving rail services with less revenue. NARP knows investment is critical, and properly funded and supported projects have a st

Hotline #961

FRA Announces $25 Million Grants; More Issues for Metro; New HSR Plan in CA Approved

April 29, 2016

U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx announced this week that he has replaced three members of Washington, D.C.’s Metro board in the face of ongoing safety issues. The three new board members, who will take office June 1, are Carol Carmody, former vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board; David Strickland, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Robert Lauby, chief safety officer of the Federal Railroad Administration. Maintaining a safe and

Hotline #960

U.S. Senate Approves Increased Funding for Rail; National Rail Network Needed To Compete on Global Economy

April 22, 2016

Two new reports have highlighted the continued growth and interest in passenger rail service throughout the U.S., in two different areas of the country - the Midwest and New York. The reports, which are described below, highlight that interest in transportation, specifically, commuter rail, is changing in the country and how people want to connect between their homes, work and other cities. This idea of connectivity was highlighted by Parag Khanna, a senior fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of P

Hotline #959

NARP’s “Day on the Hill,” Presidential Candidates on Mass Transit, CHSRA’s New Plans

April 15, 2016

Following NARP’s “Day on the Hill” on April 12th in Washington, D.C., president and CEO Jim Mathews and NARP Chairman Bob Stewart presented U.S. Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) with the prestigious “Golden Spike” Award at the organization’s annual Congressional Reception. The award was presented to to the two senators for their leadership in passing the bipartisan Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the first comprehensive surface transportation bil

Hotline #958

Amtrak Derailment Renews Calls for Safety; FTA Announces Transit-Oriented Development Support

April 8, 2016

Operation of the nation's rail network is and will continue to be an important safety issue that is heavily debated on Capitol Hill. The country’s rail infrastructure needs appropriate levels of funding and support to ensure that all railroads operate safely, and last week's derailment involving an Amtrak train and two deaths renewed these safety and infrastructure discussions. Following the derailment of Amtrak Train 89, which struck a backhoe south of Philadelphia at 106 MPH, the Federal Ra

Hotline #957

USDOT Shifts Postion on OTP, Boardman Talks Amtrak's Future, WMATA Looks to Restore “World-Class” Quality

April 1, 2016

In the second round of comments submitted by Amtrak to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) regarding on-time performance (OTP) measurement for passenger rail, the U.S. Department of Transportation has shifted to back NARP’s position that all stations should be subjected to on-time standards. After an initially ambiguous statement during the initial February 8 deadline, the U.S. DOT seemed swayed by arguments made by Amtrak and passenger rights groups such as NARP. U.S. DOT deputy general c

Hotline #956

March 25, 2016

In the wake of the terrorist attacks at Brussels’ airport and subway station, U.S. transit systems, including Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City, stepped up security procedures. Amtrak noted in a blog that Amtrak police are working with law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal levels, while MTA is working with state police and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) to elevate police presence at subway and rail stations. T

Hotline #955

March 18, 2016

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a request for proposals for a privately-financed high-speed rail system. This request included the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a high-speed train system, with a due date of August 31. The FAST Act does not include federal funding for a high-speed rail system, and is designed to gauge interest from the private sector in fully funding and operating a high-speed passenger rail corridor. Potential corridors identified