Advocates to Hold Meeting in Baker City to Discuss Restoring Amtrak Passenger Train Service in Eastern Oregon
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, July 21st, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER CITY — (Information from All Aboard NW) Passenger rail advocacy groups All Aboard Northwest (AANW) and The Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates are holding a meeting in Baker City to discuss bringing back Amtrak passenger train service in eastern Oregon and Idaho.
According to AANW, 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, because a safe, robust, seamless transportation system will bring significant economic, environmental and equity benefits to communities of all sizes.
The meeting will be held at Carnegie Crossroads Art Center in Baker City on Saturday, July 22 at 4:00pm. Register at https://allaboardnw.org/events/train-trek-baker-city/
From AANW: Since passenger rail service through eastern Oregon was discontinued in 1997, several studies have confirmed that there is a significant need for, and interest in, 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. They will discuss how expanded passenger rail service can bring significant economic, equity, and environmental benefits to the communities it serves. They will focus on collecting feedback from citizens, community leaders, and elected officials about their transportation needs.
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.
