ALL ABOARD WASHINGTON

Now, on to the state Senate. https://lnkd.in/gXgEEfEM

CALL TO ACTION -? HB 1837 All Aboard Washington (AAWA) urges our members to contact their Washington state legislators to pass House Bill 1837 establishing passenger rail improvement priorities for the Cascades service. HB 1837 was passed out of the House Rules Committee today. The next step is a vote of the full House of Representatives. HB 1837 would require the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to prioritize the following for AMTRAK Cascades service by 2035: --Increasing on-time performance to a minimum of 88%. --Provide a minimum of 14 roundtrips per day between Seattle and Portland, OR and a minimum of 5 round trips per day between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. --Achieve travel times of 2.5 hours between Seattle and Portland, OR and 2.75 hours between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. --Create improved multimodal connectivity to other transportation options. --Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can read the full House Bill Report for HB 1837 at https://lnkd.in/g9ZwmXdj. It is imperative that your legislative representatives hear from you about HB 1837. A brief message such as, “I am writing to ask that you vote in favor of HB 1837. I support frequent and reliable AMTRAK Cascades service linking Portland, OR, Seattle, WA and Vancouver, BC.” Go to the District Finder - https://lnkd.in/e8_u6x5 - if you don’t know who your representatives are. ?Time is short. The bill is expected to be put to a vote very soon. Cordially, All Aboard Washington

Sneak a peek at AAWA's new discussion board for rail advocates in the Pacific Northwest. Register to post and comment at https://aawaforum.org/ Full speed ahead!

'Josh Farley’s column echoes respected All Aboard Washington rail leader Lloyd Flem’s urging to “praise and push if you want more trains.” Another wise man.' Bruce Agnew, director, PNWER Accelerator, Seattle https://lnkd.in/gtX39Wd2

AAWA News, March 2025 Help AAWA Plan Our Priorities, Assist With Our Committees, Join Our Forum, Contact Your Elected Officials, Donations Needed https://lnkd.in/gmHrwHjn

Gary Wirt and I have published a new option for communicating among rail advocates. It's a discussion / bulletin board. We hope is that our forum will evolve into "the"?place where active discussions happen among AAWA, AORTA, and other organizations that advocate for better rail in the Pacific Northwest, but it can be expanded if there his interest. For now, this is a "soft launch." You'll need to register (no charge, of course), and once we have approved you, you'll be able to view and post. Your comments are welcome. Go to https://aawaforum.org/ and click on Register at the top right. Full speed ahead!

This Saturday's meeting will focus on AAWA's strategies for 2025. The agenda is still in progress, but a draft is here. https://lnkd.in/gMzz6EcX https://lnkd.in/gqHH9rX4 We hope you can attend.

Reminder that the excellent book "When Driving is Not an Option" by Anna Zivarts is on sale until tonight at a major discount.?Don't miss out! https://lnkd.in/dzQ3BA6T

AAWA News, February 2025: AAWA Expands Board; FRA Study Submitted; AAWA Presents to Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), Yakima Rotary, WA and OR Legislatures, and WA Transportation Commission; Upcoming Events; Advocacy Groups Oppose Firings at FRA; Transportation Books Available https://lnkd.in/gtny9isb

"The Rail Passengers Association joined with a dozen other state and regional rail passenger organizations to defend the Federal Railroad Administration from another round of firings that would further delay work on several rail projects of national significance, threatening the 2025 construction season at a time of increased economic fragility in the U.S." https://lnkd.in/g-bwm9hc The board of All Aboard Washington has approved signing on to this letter.