News: August 2000

31 August 2000

REPORT: "A Plan To Reorganize Amtrak" from the United Rail Passenger Alliance; by Andrew C. Selden.
QUOTE: "On the assumption that Congress wished to end its subsidization of NRPC by FY 2002 rather than merely relabel it, this report proposes a reorganization of NRPC that will largely achieve the Congressional goal of ending federal subsidization of intercity rail passenger operations in most markets. A specific plan is proposed as well as a transitional strategy to achieve it. The theoretical foundation for a genuinely successful rail intercity service is outlined, and examples -- including a specific precedent and model for the plan proposed -- are given.
"The basic concept of this plan is to reorganize the NRPC by dividing it into a half dozen of its major component parts, and to spin off those major elements into autonomous, competitive entities (leaving the Northeast Corridor in the hands of the current NRPC entity and management), on the model of the highly successful 1984 breakup of AT&T Corp. Significant, self-financed growth is forecast for the spun-off entities, especially the component providing a national system of long distance interregional services."

25 August 2000

"Sunday TRAX Possible" The Salt Lake Tribune 25 August 2000. QUOTE: "Sunday bus and light-rail service for the Wasatch Front lurched closer to reality Thursday when Salt Lake County mayors formally requested that the county put a transit-tax hike on the Nov. 7 ballot... part of the money will be used to run public transportation on Sundays and holidays. The rest would pay for increased bus service, operating a commuter rail line from Ogden to Salt Lake City and possibly expanding light rail."

24 August 2000

"DISPUTED LEGACY: Highway Plan Gets Cheers, Jeers" Salt Lake Tribune, 19 August 2000. QUOTE: "...even a few Davis County residents said they opposed Legacy and wanted only the transit upgrades... Former U.S. Rep. Bill Orton, the Democratic nominee for governor, attended the hearing to advocate construction of better transit before deciding if a new highway is needed. 'A rail system is cheaper, it is safer, it is less environmentally damaging,' Orton said... He said Legacy eventually may prove necessary, but delaying it with better transit could give Utah time to employ new technologies that make freeways obsolete."

19 August 2000

"SLOC Crossing Its T's" Salt Lake Tribune, 19 August 2000. QUOTE: "More buses and light rail cars. Better dispersed park-and-ride facilities. Improved venue access. A strategy for battling winter temperature inversions. All are part of the latest draft of the Olympic transportation plan for the 2002 Games."
"Road Building May Escape Shutdown: Air pollution levels lower than projected, which could skirt pending federal moratorium" Salt Lake Tribune, 19 August 2000.

18 August 2000

"All aboard for intercity rail Party platforms recognize value of high-speed passenger rail in economic development, enhanced mobility" Oregon Live editorial, 18 August 2000. QUOTE: " Both Republican and Democratic parties finally are on the same track in regard to supporting intercity passenger rail -- acknowledgment that Amtrak, which is setting records for revenue and ridership, is turning the corner in both popular and political support."
"Union Station agrees to light rail RTD negotiates to extend its Central Platte Valley line" Denver Rocky Mountain News 17 August 2000. QUOTE: "In a 'major breakthrough' for the future of Denver-area transportation, RTD will be allowed to extend its Central Platte Valley light-rail line to Union Station, RTD General Manager Cal Marsella said Wednesday."

7 August 2000

"Poll backs commuter rail -- if it's fast and cheap" Deseret News, 7 August 2000. QUOTE: "More than 85 percent of the people surveyed by Top of Utah Research said commuter rail is a good or excellent idea. The approval jumped to 98 percent for people who work in Salt Lake County. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they're willing to pay a quarter-cent sales tax increase to help fund rail and other transit programs."