Action Alert: Sign in “Pro” for Amtrak Cascades bill by Tuesday 3pm

A northbound Amtrak Cascades train waits to depart from King Street Station in February (Peter Lewis via the STB flickr Group).

The Transit Riders Union alerted us to important legislation in Olympia that could use your help. The Urbanist covered this bill earlier in the legislative process, which seeks to improve service on Amtrak Cascades. To achieve these goals, WSDOT would likely implement upgrades described in the most recent service development plan.

The following is largely copied from Mary Patterson's post (which you need to be a member to view):

The Amtrak Cascades bill ESHB 1837 has now been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee and organizers have a goal of 2000 pro" sign-ins by the time that window closes at 3pm on Tuesday April 1st (tomorrow). Here's the link to the sign-in page for the bill. Choose ESHB 1837, your preferred testimony style, and Pro" as your position.

Even though this bill is common-sensical and cost-efficient, it is actually ground-breaking in the way it requires WSDOT to communicate more fully with legislators about rail-planning - and in the way the bill sets ambitious goals for Amtrak Cascades between Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle and Portland (12 stops in Washington):

• 14 daily round trips Seattle-Portland in 2 hours 45 minutes
• minimum 5 daily round trips Seattle-Vancouver, B.C. in 3 hours 20 minutes
• minimum 88% on-time
• to be achieved by 2035

(If you're a fan of the Ultra High Speed Rail project, this is not that, but it would come a lot sooner than Ultra and could act as a sort of local" service that feeds into the Ultra express service if the Ultra express were to happen.)

There was a plan for this level of service with even shorter trip times back in 2006, but WSDOT mostly ignored it, so sadly we're fighting for it again. 25-30% of Washingtonians don't drive and some who do drive would like not to - so we need trains for the longer distances the way we need buses for the shorter distances. Plus, trains are a climate and health solution - but that's a longer story.

After signing in Pro," it would be a good idea to let your own Senator know you want them to vote for this bill when it gets on to the full Senate floor.