Monday, January 26, 2009

Jan. 27 Calls Needed to Support Amendments to Increase Mass Transit Stimulus funding

Please contact U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern
Tue. Jan 27 before 3:30 Rules Committee Meeting
If you want to see more funding for public transportation in the House economic recovery bill (H.R. 1 – The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) that is moving through Congress, there are two amendments (described below) to support before Tue. Jan. 27 at 3:30p. They need approval from the House Rules Committee to get a vote on the floor.

To voice your support, please contact House Rules Committee member, Rep. Jim McGovern (MA 3rd District)

34 Mechanic Street
Worcester , MA 01608
Phone: (508) 831-7356
Fax: (508) 754-0982

Washington Office
438 Cannon Building
Washington , DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6101
Fax: (202) 225-5759
Given the tight timeframe, a phone call will probably be more effective, but to reach Rep. McGovern by email, you can go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and enter 01608 under zip code to send a message.

The Rules Committee hearing tomorrow will determine whether these amendments will be allowed on the floor.

1) Representative DeFazio (D-OR) will offer an Amendment to including $2 billion in operating assistance for public transportation authorities across the country to meet growing ridership in the face of serious budget cuts.
2) Representative Nadler (D-NY) will also offer an Amendment to increase the capital transit investment from $9 billion to $12 billion.

A quick phone call can help make big difference. Ask a friend to call too!

If you're really on a roll, any influence with the other members of the Rules Committee would be welcome.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

All Hail To Rail, DOT Commissioner Says

Rick Green's column paints a very pro-rail picture of Joseph Marie, CT's transportation commissioner. Sounds to me like the right person for this job.

A point on interim commuter service between Springfield and New Haven caught my attention:

"Although cutting a deal with Amtrak to run a few commuter trains along the existing tracks between Hartford and New Haven might be a good idea, Marie said that a half-baked effort could be worse than nothing."

Monday, January 12, 2009

"...[T]he future of commuter rail in our region will be projects like the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield rail line."

Excerpt from Sen. Chris Dodd's excellent address to the well-attended Regional Transportation Forum presented by the Connecticut Sierra Club and the National Corridors Initiative on Jan. 9:

"...[I]n a matter of days, we will have a president and a Congress that understand the benefits that investments in public transportation can bring not only on the macro level—to reducing congestion, increasing mobility, improving energy security, and addressing climate change—but the community level as well – helping connect workers to the jobs communities need, from the mechanics, nurses, and plumbers, to the young engineers and entrepreneurs, to those in our high tech and bio tech industries and others...."

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Advocates See Economic Opening For Rail Projects

Excerpts from an interesting article on the "Need for Speed" forum sponsored by the Sierra Club and National Corridors Initiative held Jan. 9 (link to full article above).

"Legislators promised a new effort to break a "highways first" culture in state government, and former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons described the Obama administration's stimulus plan as an extraordinary chance to expand rapid transit throughout Connecticut and New England...."

"....Dodd cited the long-overdue Springfield-to-Hartford-to-New Haven commuter rail project as an example of what New England needs to be economically competitive in the 21st century...."

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

PVACR Meeting Jan. 14 7:00-8:30p

PVACR January Meeting – Note earlier start time

When: Wed. Jan. 14, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Where: Lathrop House B&B (http://www.lathrophousebandb.com/), 188 Sumner Ave., Springfield, MA 01108

Agenda items:
1 - Consider partnering with Transportation for America (www.t4america.org).
2 – Collecting petition signatures during the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show at the Big E Jan. 24-25, 2009

If you can't make the meeting, please chime in at pvacr@yahoo.com.

PVPC Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Study

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has launched its newsletter to update interested people about the Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Study.

The study is examining reestablishment of passenger rail service on the Conn River Line between Springfield, MA and White River Junction, VT. For more information and to sign up for the e-newsletter, check out http://www.pvpc.org/corridor/getinvolved.html