AANW Update December 2024
All Aboard Northwest participated in the Amtrak Board of Directors meeting that was held in Seattle on December 4. While there was some good news from Amtrak and the Northwest states about expanded ridership in fiscal year 2024, it’s evident that rail advocates have lots of work to do in the coming months.
Amtrak and the rail offices of Oregon and Washington made it clear that expanded and more frequent rail service won’t happen without continued legislative support in Washington DC, Salem, Olympia, and the other state capitals in the Greater Northwest. The expansions proposed by the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, and the Long-Distance Service Study, won’t happen without funding for infrastructure improvements, additional equipment, and operating funds.
Amtrak and the state DOTs won’t lobby for these improvements, so it will be up to us. We saw that there has been great enthusiasm for better rail when we visited your communities through our Train Treks and on-going conversations. That enthusiasm is bipartisan, since most communities appreciate the need for at least some of our “3Es”– benefits to the economy, the environment, and to equity.
Local groups in places like Baker City, Oregon; Laramie, Wyoming; and Ritzville, Washington have generated community support to press local, state and national leaders to fund a rail system for everyone.
Would you like to create a local organization in your own community? With your donations, All Aboard Northwest can help. Please donate today at https://allaboardnw.org/support/ and let us know if you would like to talk about creating your own local organization.
We wish you a great holiday season and safe travels!