Presentation by Sen. Patty Murray on high speed rail
Prepared for the Cascadia Rail Week, May 27-29, 2009 Read More ›
Private Firms Seek Support to Run Ferries
Original article Don Sorenson was one of hundreds of drivers inching toward the Edmonds ferry terminal hoping to catch the 4:30 p.m. boat to Kingston. But when the ferry filled up, the line came to a halt, and Sorenson settled in to bake in the sunshine in his pickup to wait second in line for the next boat. Having driven Read More ›
Officials Seek Expanded Passenger Ferry Network
Original article Maritime, transit and government leaders plan to hold a daylong floating forum July 1 to launch a coalition that will help create a network of passenger-only ferries plying Western Washington waters. A key theme will be how to create private/public partnerships that can make future passenger-only ferries financially viable. Private operators here contend they can’t operate regular passenger Read More ›
Vision Quest: Lack of Guts, Candor Strangle Seattle, the State, the Region
Officials Closing in on Deal to Save Amtrak
The quick, pragmatic answer is the national passenger snail service known as Amtrak cannot be allowed to collapse. That means the railway should receive the short-term financing needed to keep it alive through October and into next year.Clearly, however, the three-decades-old Amtrak is a failure as it is now configured. Last week, the Bush administration proposed shifting more of the Read More ›
Sticker Shock? Get Over It
That collective shudder across Puget Sound this month had nothing to do with terrorism or tectonics. It was big-league sticker shock. Mired in traffic, our region learned from state transportation planners that expanding the 405, 167, 520 and 509 corridors and undergrounding the Alaskan Way Viaduct could cost taxpayers as much as $30 billion. That’s $30 billion with a “B,” Read More ›
Amtrak Has Failed, But What Comes Next?
The quick, pragmatic answer is the national passenger snail service known as Amtrak cannot be allowed to collapse. That means the railway should receive the short-term financing needed to keep it alive through October and into next year. Clearly, however, the three-decades-old Amtrak is a failure as it is now configured. Last week, the Bush administration proposed shifting more of Read More ›
‘The Left Coast’ Deserves Expanded Amtrak Service
A trip down to Portland on Amtrak’s comfortable Cascades train leaves you relaxed and ready to enjoy tales of woe from those who have dealt with airport security or traffic on Interstate 5. As well, riding the rails gives passengers time to reflect on a trio of topics: how we deal with Northwest growth, the Mickey Mouse aspects to the Read More ›