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Climate Action Alert, Washington State 2/7/23 and 2/8/23 - RSVP to join in on Amtrak Cascades Plans [1]

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Date: 2023-02-07  

Reconnecting and revitalizing America with expanded passenger rail (and better freight rail) is what we need. Give government your feedback - and maybe win a prize!

Via Solutionary Rail:

In Washington State, the climate imperative and transportation justice demand that policymakers favor trains - not more lanes or planes! Several opportunities to learn more / get your voice heard about passenger rail service along the I5 corridor are upcoming: 1) WSDOT Webinar about its Service Development plan (SDP) for Amtrak Cascades, Tuesday, February 7 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Info to join the webinar is HERE. (Probably Pacific time) It looks like this will overlap the State of the Union address, but you can see the start of it... 2) Solutionary Rail Interview with rail expert and Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan co-author Thomas White, this Wednesday February 8 at noon — PACIFIC . We hope you'll join us. RSVP HERE.

Why this is important:

The north-south Amtrak Cascades service was designed to meet high population/ridership scenarios when the Long Range Plan (AC-LRP) was written. Though written in 2006, it still offers the most viable pathway for modeshift to passenger rail. Today, however, our policymakers, led by Governor Jay Inslee, are focusing on their pet project, Ultra High Speed Rail (UHSR). But what about the Amtrak Cascades? We need infrastructure and service improvements to be designed to maximize ridership in the shortest amount of time, primarily because of the extreme urgency to cut emissions in half by 2030, and quickly thereafter. Building up our existing rail network for “regional high-speed rail” will take less time and money than building all-new corridors for ultra fast trains. Washington State decision-makers must focus on mode shift to rail by expanding and upgrading our existing rail network that has potential to be much better utilized. The north-south Amtrak Cascades service can meet high growth scenarios that are cost effective, affordable, and sensible. Solutionary Rail Project Lead Bill Moyer will interview one of the authors of the Amtrak Cascades Long Range Plan, Thomas White.

If you have time to see either or both, there’s more steps for action by Washington State residents — filling out the surveys will help, and maybe win you a prize!

3. AFTER Tuesday's webinar and Wednesday's SR interview, can you take 5 minutes and fill out this WSDOT Survey about Amtrak Cascades service? Tell our state Transportation agency that more frequent trains and reliable schedules are a must for inducing demand for rail! Deadline to fill out the survey is Feb 24, so please plan to do this after the two events above. 4. Solutionary Rail and Climate Rail Alliance have our own Survey on Transportation choices and needs. Our goal is 1000 responses from Washingtonians, so we can amplify your voice and needs when speaking to legislators. If you've already filled it out, thank you! (Please don't fill it out again.)But if you haven't yet, we would be grateful to get your feedback via this quick survey!

You don’t have to be a Washington State resident to watch the webinar and interview. Rail could be an important tool in getting America to decarbonize transportation and rebuild our economy into something sustainable for the 21st century. Every state served by Amtrak — especially those where service will be expanded — needs to hear from everyone who wants the kind of rail service America needs. The interview with Thomas White will provide a lot of information on where we’re coming from, where we are, and where we could be.

For Washington State residents, even if you can’t find time to watch the webinars, please take time to fill out the surveys, WSDOT and Solutionary Rail.

There’s an extra incentive to fill out the WSDOT survey by 2/24/23:

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/7/2151623/-Climate-Action-Alert-Washington-State-2-7-23-and-2-8-23-RSVP-to-join-in-on-Amtrak-Cascades-Plans

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