Amtrak & FRA Look at Long Distance Routes

- How AAO Members Can Help -

While All Aboard Ohio supports the rail corridors that have been nominated by the State of Ohio and two of our largest regional planning organizations, we’re encouraged that Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration are seriously looking at increasing service on existing long-distance passenger rail routes. These include all three that now serve Ohio:

• The Lake Shore Limited (daily)

• The Capitol Limited (daily)

• The Cardinal (thrice weekly)

The joint FRA/Amtrak Task Force is also looking at adding new routes, as reflected in their latest map (below).

Both AAO and the Railroad Passenger Association have long supported better long distance services. In fact, this joint Amtrak/FRA Task Force grew from efforts to make Amtrak’s “Cardinal” a daily train.

Developing a better national system of both long distance and corridor trains is what can get us to a major goal for both Ohio and the Great Lakes Region: passenger trains that are not just faster, but service that is frequent, timely and reliable. Service like this is what grows ridership and increases the positive climate benefits of passenger rail by creating viable options to driving.

The Long Distance Task Force recently met in Cleveland, hearing testimony from the Ohio Rail Development Commission, Northeast Ohio Area Coordinating Agency (NOACA) and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission.

This stage of the Task Force Work is at the half-way point. There will be further meetings in the Winter and Spring. So, there’s still time for all of us to make comments at the Task Force web page. AAO urges you to sign up and share your thoughts at: https://fralongdistancerailstudy.org

(Scroll to the bottom of the page to the comments form)

Many of us, as advocates, have been justifiably skeptical in the past about Amtrak’s commitment to its National network, but with federal funding for passenger rail service now at historic levels, Amtrak had the following statement delivered at all of the regional meetings:

“At Amtrak, we believe the long distance and overnight trains are the foundation of our National Network. They are vital to many communities throughout the United States, where in many cases they are the only intercity public transportation service. Long distance trains also serve many passengers for whom flying or driving is not an option. “We want to strengthen and enhance our network. That is why we are moving quickly to use federal funding to refresh and then replace the long distance fleet and to seek federal grants to improve infrastructure to reduce trip times and to provide additional frequencies to serve more people. The grant applications reiterate our commitment to improving service for all Amtrak customers, from small, rural towns to major metropolitan areas. “We are an active participant in the FRA’s LDSS process and look forward to seeing the results of the study. If the FRA’s study recommends expanding the long distance network, it will require significant federal funding for infrastructure improvements, fleet and ongoing operating support. We stand ready to work with the FRA and Congress to identify available resources and to determine how to bring more trains to more people.”

All Aboard Ohio has commented to the FRA and Amtrak on both corridor and long distance services. But we need you to “Tell Your Story” about why more and better passenger rail is important to you. That’s a message that’s also important for your state and federal legislators to hear and understand.

You can do this through All Aboard Ohio’s web page at: https://www.allaboardohio.org/legislators

For the first time in many years, we have increased reason to step up and speak out. Let’s not miss this opportunity.

Calling All Ledger Lovers and Numbers Crunchers

Non-profit, All Aboard Ohio, a statewide passenger rail advocacy group, is seeking to add a board member with advanced Quickbooks skills, and is offering the future opportunity for the new board member to become part of the executive committee as Treasurer.  Familiarity with Quickbooks online is necessary and experience with Quickbooks connector, nonprofits and WIX a plus.

This volunteer position requires an estimated 4 to 6 hours a month of assigning expenses and revenue, uploading receipts and checks and providing a monthly report to the board.  Additionally there are board meetings on that second Tuesday of the month that are approximately an  hour and a half to two hours long.

Interested parties should contact:

Erin Rosiello

erin@allaboardohio.org

513.208.7753

Meet the Vice-Chair: Amanda Woodrum

Hello fellow transit and rail advocates,

If you care about passenger rail in Ohio, now is the time to pay attention.

I was asked to introduce myself as a relatively new board member of All Aboard Ohio to our members. Some of you may already know me. I spent more than a

decade leading a statewide transit coalition of diverse stakeholders. As you probably already know, we have underinvested in public transportation, both as a state and as a nation, for nearly a century. In the meantime, nearly all of our taxpayer dollars go towards roads and highways making it nearly impossible to get by without a car. As you also likely know, cars are expensive to own, operate and maintain. Often, prohibitively expensive for Ohio’s low-income families. For the elderly and people with disabilities they may not be an option at all. Public transportation, including passenger rail, is not only a more affordable transportation alternative, significant investments in alternative modes of transportation can create good jobs such as laying rail while also offering a more environmentally-friendly and efficient way to move people and goods.

This is why I joined the board of All Aboard Ohio. We are at a potential transformational moment. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to alter the trajectory of our state’s transportation system to finally recognize passenger rail and other forms of public transportation as important components of Ohio’s transportation system. President Bident signed into law a series of bills I refer to as the federal climate infrastructure package that include unprecedented investments in rail. Much work needs to be done, however, to bring any of these federal resources to Ohio.

It’s an all hands on deck moment for passenger rail enthusiasts.

Amanda Woodrum is the Co-Director of ReImagine Appalachia, a four-state coalition of diverse stakeholder groups working together to find common ground and create a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous Appalachia. She has a master’s degree in economics and law degree from the University of Akron in Ohio. Over the past 15 years or so, she has conducted research, advocacy and coalition building around the role energy, transportation, health, labor and anti-poverty policy can play to promote a more sustainable and equitable economy. In addition to serving on the board of All Aboard Ohio, she also serves on the University of Akron’s Dept. of Economics Advisory Board. After living in New York City and experiencing 9/11, she returned to Ohio determined to make the state and the region the kind of place she wanted to live.