December 21, 2023
AAWA News, December 2023
Increased Amtrak Cascades Service Begins
The Amtrak Cascades daily frequencies between Seattle and Portland, OR that have been delayed since 2017 finally began on December 11., and have proved very popular.
See the WSDOT press release at https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2023/amtrak-cascades-adds-two-more-daily-roundtrips-starting-dec-11
View Videos of AAWA’s Winter Gathering
The event hosted by All Aboard Washington, The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates, All Aboard Northwest, and the Northwest Region of the Rail Passengers Association on December 9 at the Centralia depot was attended by 50 people in person and more than 30 more joined via Zoom.
The topic “Why High-Tech Driving Doesn't Solve Traffic, and Why a Robust Rail Network is a Better Alternative” featuring keynote speakers Peter Norton Ph. D,, associate professor of history in the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia and Meredith Richards, President of the Virginia Rail Policy Institute, Board Chair of the Rail Passengers Association, and former President of Virginians for High Speed Rail, generated significant interest. Additional Sessions included
- Next-Generation Passenger Rail Equipment and Schedule
- More Trains and Funding: FRA Grant Opportunities, Long-Distance Study, Rail Projects
- 2024 State Legislative Agendas
- Transportation Equity and Accessibility
- Dreams Into Reality: Building Coalitions, Creating Effective Community Outreach
A detailed agenda and recordings are available online at https://gnwprs.org/2023-winter-gathering/
Winter Gathering speakers and staff, Dec. 9, 2023. Top: Mary Paterson, Tim Gould, Arvia Morris, Amara Schermerhorn, Luis Moscoso, Peter Norton, Meredith Richards, Patrick Carnahan. Seated: Cecilia Black, Charlie Hamilton. Photo by Warren Yee.
2024 Legislative Agenda
The Washington state legislature begins its 2024 session on January 8. Because this will be a short legislative session, AAWA can only focus on advocating for one piece of legislation: a proviso to conduct a benefit-cost analysis of east-west passenger rail service via Stampede Pass, which we originally proposed during the 2023 session: https://www.aawa.us/news/posts/aawa-submits-proviso-for-benefit-cost-analysis-of-east-west-passenger-rail-service/
We will also prepare for the long session in 2025, when the next transportation budget will be developed under the governor to be elected in November 2024. We encourage our members to advocate for improved passenger rail with the candidates of your choice during the upcoming election season.
Planning for Station Improvements
What improvements would you like to see to rail stations in Washington state? We are working with the Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region to put together a list of priorities, both for existing stations and possible future stations. Let us know what you would put on your list!
2024 Meeting Schedule
Please put these dates on your calendar. During the January meeting, we will be holding elections for the AAWA Board of Directors and officers. Contact us if you would be interested in running for one of these positions. And let us know what topics and speakers you would like us to include in the upcoming year.
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1/8/24 |
WA Legislature Session begins |
Olympia |
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1/13/24 |
AAWA General Meeting |
TBD |
Legislature Preview |
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2/10/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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3/8/24 |
WA Legislature Session ends (est.) |
Olympia |
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3/9/24 |
AAWA General Meeting |
TBD |
Legislature Wrap-Up |
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4/13/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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5/11/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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6/8/24 |
AAWA General Meeting |
TBD |
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7/13/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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8/10/24 |
Picnic |
Lacey |
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9/14/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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10/12/24 |
AAWA General Meeting |
TBD |
Holiday weekend |
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11/9/24 |
AAWA Board Meeting |
Zoom |
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12/14/24 |
Winter Gathering |
TBD |
Remembering Jim and Zack on the Anniversary of the Dupont Accident
From our friend Carl Fowler:
“December 18 marked six years since the Dupont, WA Talgo crash that took the lives of my great friends, Jim Hamre and Zach Wilhoite. I think of them and remember them. I had met Jim in 1981 as we were both lobbying to save the Seattle-Portland passenger service. That he died on the inaugural run of the new route defies cruel fate. Life truly is not fair.”
We believe that Jim and Zack would approve that we continue to work to improve our train service. Please donate online at https://www.aawa.us/donate or by mail to:
All Aboard Washington
P.O. Box 70381
Seattle, WA 98127-0381
We thank you for your support.