Record Ridership and New Website at Amtrak Cascades

WSDOT launched a redesigned Amtrak Cascades redesigned today.

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

On first glance, it is a little busy but overall I really like it.  Too many times transit agencies and government transportation providers don't sell their services, they just provide the bare bones information.  This website breaks that mold.  It is combines Amtrak Cascades successful marketing campaign (tweet to Tacoma, or email to Olympia) with catchy visuals and useful rider information.  Huge props to WSDOT marketing folks and whomever their outside consultant was.

In related news, their marketing efforts (and increasing gas prices) seem to be paying off.  WSDOT reports that Amtrak Cascades broke another ridership record last quarter with an increase of 8% ridership compared to 2010 numbers. Between April-June this year 231,194 rode Amtrak Cascades; that means 16,550 new people chose to hop on the rails and leave their cars at home.

The bottom line is, ridership is up, Washingtonians want more intercity rail service, and thanks to Obama's rail program we are going to get increased service in the Seattle-Portland coordinator.  Big props to WSDOT's rail program and all of you Amtrak riders out there.

Congressional Listening Session Yesterday with Congressmen Mica and Herrera Beutler

Yesterday I had the opportunity to squeeze into the over packed Congressional listening session in Vancouver, WA.  The room the had for the event held 75 and there were over 200 people who wanted to get in.

Lack of space aside, it was a fascinating event.  Outside of the hearing the anti-tolls and anti-light rail folks fighting against the CRC Bridge project were out in full force.  My favorite sign of theirs said, "Don't light rail to nowhere; Portlandia to Nowhere, USA."  If found this funny, I guess they don't have a very high regard for their community.  The pro-bridge, pro-light rail group was out in even greater numbers.  I snapped a bunch of photos, which I'll post later.

In the meantime check out our twitter feed @transpochoices where I put up a running dialogue of the meeting.  A few highlights:

• Chairmen Mica (FL) opened up the floor saying he didn't want to talk about a specific project, but instead wanted ideas on how to make federal transportation policy better.  Congresswomen Herrera Beutler spoke immediately after him and all she talked about was CRC, It was quite bizarre.
• Michael Ennis of the Washington policy center went into his typical anti-labor, anti-environment, anti-light rail tirade but Chairmen Mica cut him off saying he didn't want to listen to his talking points but wanted constructive ideas. 
• Mica also cut off David Madore of notolsl.com and Secretary Hammond when they started reading their prepared presentations.  Madore did not pivot well at all and did not look good.  He even went as far to attack bureaucrats and elected officials, saying elected officials are on the take from project supporters, which is a puzzling considering he pumped $200,000 of his own money into no-tolls candidates.  This guy basically is becoming the Kemper Freeman of Vancouver.  Paula Hammond on the other hand, pivoted with class and skill.  Not only that, her messaging was right on and immediately started talking about Amtrak Cascades and doing more with less as an agency.  She discussed how they are shifting their focus from new road capacity to maintenance, smart highways, transit, rail, and variable tolling.  I basically wanted to stand up and clap hearing these priorities coming directly from Secretary Hammond.

For a full rundown check out our twitter feed at @transpochoices.  Also the Columbian did a nice job covering the event and has three stories on it today, here, here, and here.

Editorial: Canadian Government Says No to Second Train and a Growing Economic Engine

A year ago as the Vancouver Winter Olympics were looming, the Washington Legislature and WSDOT secured funding to pay for a second Amtrak Cascades train to Canada and finally a deal was reached in increase rail service between Seattle and Vancouver.

Since the Olympics ridership has remained strong and it has proved a popular service for tourists and travelers in the region.  Despise WSDOT's strong financial commitment to the second BC train its future is in jeopardy.  Why you might ask? Because the Canadian Government does not want to spend a few thousands dollars per train to staff customs agents at the station.

This second round trip is a critical economic, cultural, and transportation link between Seattle and Vancouver.  It provides an important transportation option for BC, Washington, and international travelers.  To see this service lost due to lack of initiative from the Canadian Federal Government would be an absolute travesty.

The Canadian Government has suggested charging a surcharge to pay for customs services on the train.  Do drivers going into Canada have to pay a surcharge for customs? No.  Does the Canadian Government try to charge Washington State when automobile traffic increases at the border? Of course not.  This is a gross example of government policies from decades past that unfairly places financial burdens on travelers who choose not to drive.

I the end I see this as a issue of pure economics.  Every traveler that gets off a cruise ship in Seattle and takes the train to Vancouver or every Seattlite who decides to take a "stay-cation" with a weekend train trip to Vancouver stays in their hotels, buys their taxable goods, and directly contributes to their local economy (and generates tax revenue).  To cancel the popular second train makes that trip much less convenient and eliminates a growing economic engine for Cascadia.  With the help of WSDOT's strong leadership on this issue, I hope that  local, provincial, and federal governments in Canada can come to an agreement to fund the minuscule cost of two customs agents to meet the second train in Vancouver.  Anything otherwise would be a complete failure of vision and leadership by our good neighbors to the North.

Amtrak Cascades in Surrey, BC image courtesy Seattle Transit Blog