By Charles Hamilton
Advocates Meet to Discuss Restoring Passenger Rail Service in Eastern Oregon and Idaho Passenger rail advocacy groups All Aboard Northwest (AANW) and The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates are bringing their 2023 Train Trek to Weiser, Idaho, and Ontario, Oregon on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22. We will focus on collecting feedback from citizens, community leaders, and elected officials about their transportation needs.
There are unprecedented funds available for transportation improvements under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). AAWA, in cooperation with The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates (AORTA) and All Aboard Northwest (AANW) is working to spread the word. A safe, robust, seamless transportation system will bring significant economic, environmental and equity benefits to communities of all sizes.
Since passenger rail service through Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho was discontinued in 1997, several studies confirm that there is a significant need for, and interest in, passenger trains that would offer local and regional connections. The Federal Railroad Administration is currently conducting a Daily Long-Distance Service Study to evaluate the feasibility of restoring this and other services.
During the 2023 Train Trek, AANW and AORTA will share the latest news on potential service restoration. Our discussion will focus on how expanded passenger rail service can bring significant economic, equity, and environmental benefits to the communities it serves. Our focus is to collect feedback from citizens, community leaders, and elected officials.
AANW’s vision is for seamless multimodal transportation connectivity for the Greater Northwest Region of the United States focused around a robust passenger rail system core. Improved door-to-door connectivity between sidewalks, local public transit, and intercity rail provides economic, environmental, and equity benefits to all, including low-income, tribal, disability, and rural communities; locations where transportation alternatives are limited; and the nearly 30 percent of the population that does not drive.
“With targets for reductions of vehicle trips, greenhouse gas emissions, and traffic fatalities all coming due over the next decade, immediate actions should be taken to sustain our region’s economic vitality, environmental commitments, and equitable access for all citizens,” said Patrick Carnahan, AANW’s policy director.
Weiser, Idaho Friday, July 21 at 1:00 pm MT
Weiser Train Depot
1 State Street Weiser, ID 83672
Register at https://allaboardnw.org/events/train-trek-weiser/
Ontario, Oregon Saturday, July 22 10:00 am PT
Ontario Community Library
388 S.W. 2nd Avenue Ontario, OR 97914
Register at https://allaboardnw.org/events/train-trek-ontario/
