Your weekly source of fresh takes on news affecting America's passengers. See also the NARP Blog.
March 20, 2015
Senate leaders suggested this week that rail provisions could be included in a surface transportation reauthorization-- a bill that must move forward before June due to the scheduled expiration of the federal gas tax. “If we do a multiyear reauthorization of the surface transportation, the highway bill, there's generally a rail title in that, so that could be a vehicle,” Senate Commerce Commit...
March 13, 2015
In a victory for passengers, the Supreme Court vacated a lower court decision, reinstating metrics and standards for Amtrak service that will protect the rights of train passengers. In doing so, the court agreed with the “Friend of the Court” brief filed by the National Association of Railroad Passengers and the Environmental Policy & Law Center in U.S. Department of Transportation vs. the...
March 6, 2015
The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly against an amendment that sought to end passenger rail service in America on March 4. Rep. Tom McClintock’s (R-CA) amendment to eliminate funding to Amtrak – including Capitol Corridor and California Zephyr service in his own district – was voted down 272 to 147, nearly a two-to-one margin. “This is a big victory for trains in Americ...
February 27, 2015
Earlier this week, NARP discovered that the House is scheduled to vote on the passenger train authorization bill on Tuesday, with a number of anti-Amtrak amendments to be considered. Act now to ask your elected representative to support passenger trains and vote “NO” on the anti-Amtrak amendments! Below, NARP has reproduced a full list of the amendments to the Passenger Rail Reform and Inve...
February 20, 2015
NARP President Jim Mathews (far left) looks on as Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx speaks (Foxx is flanked by Mayor Muriel Bowser and Amtrak President Joe Boardman). U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx hit the road this week to raise awareness of the looming infrastructure crisis that threatens our mobility and the U.S. economy. A highlight of the tour was a stop in Charleston, So...