ProRail Nebraska

Dedicated to supporting and advocating for railroad service
in the State of Nebraska.

ProRail Nebraska Meetings

Next Member Meeting: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 9:00 am in Lincoln at Hardin Hall on the UNL East Campus. Click here to view the Agenda. The general public is welcome to attend!

State Senator Annette Dubas, Chair of the Transportation & Telecommunications Committee, will be our guest speaker talking about Nebraska's membership in the MIPRC. See article below.

Next Board Meeting: Saturday, June 1, 2013, following the Membership Meeting at UNL's Hardin Hall in Lincoln. Please contact Dave Purdy, PRN President, for details.

Status of LB 486 – Appropriate Funds to pay Nebraska’s Dues in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact (MIPRC)

LB 486 was introduced by State Senator Annette Dubas, District 34 and Chair of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee. It was referred to the Appropriations Committee which held a hearing on the bill on March 21, 2013. Both ProRail Nebraska and MIPRC testified in support of the bill.

The intent of LB 486 has now been incorporated in Amendment (AM) 656 to LB 195 which was introduced by the Appropriations Committee to the Legislature on April 29, 2013. In “Section 15. AGENCY NO. 3 – Legislative Council” of the amendment MIPRC funding has been included under “Program No. 501 – Intergovernmental Cooperation.” The amounts of funds appropriated are $30,000 for FY 2013-2014 and $15,000 for FY 2014-2015. This handling of LB 486 meets with the approval of Senator Dubas, MIPRC and PRN.

Over the next few weeks (Legislative Days 72 through 79) AM 656 will be debated and amended. Finally, in some form as an amended LB 195, it will be passed as the biennial budget for the state and submitted to the Governor. The governor may decide not to sign it and it becomes law, sign it as submitted to him or make line item vetoes and return it to the Legislature. The Legislature may override the vetoes. At many points in this process the MIPRC funding as now proposed in AM 656 could be changed and/or deleted. Please check this PRN website occasionally to learn of any such actions and what can be done as a result of them.

If you have questions about the status and future of LB 486 now AM 656 to LB 195, please feel free to contact Bob Kuzelka at rkuzleka1@unl.edu.

Click here to view "Reasons why ProRail Nebraska supports Nebraska Legislative Bill 486."

The State of Iowa is preparing a design for passenger rail service between Omaha and Chicago, using their state money and money from the federal government. Nebraska is not contributing to the effort and therefore does not participate in its management.

In its application for federal funds, Iowa said that the western terminal of the service would be in Omaha. Now, the time has come to decide in detail where the western terminal will actually be. Iowa has a free had in this regard. They could even place the terminal in Council Bluffs and thereby keep the expense of a Missouri River crossing out of their budget.

It is time for Nebraska to wake up and participate in the design. Nebraska should design the part of this project that is in Nebraska. The design should include an extension to Lincoln, so that the project serves a major portion of Nebraska’s population. Nebraska should finance their portion of the design, supplemented by federal funds if practical. Let’s get some action on this idea.

Rail Fest is an annual event that brings together the best aspects of North Platte, Nebraska and the Union Pacific Railroad - their people - into a united spirit of appreciation coupled with a focus on our continued progress together. This year's celebration will be held September 20, 21, and 22, 2013

Rail Fest celebrates the bond between the Union Pacific Railroad, its employees and our community. It focuses on what the men and women of the Union Pacific Railroad have been working toward for almost 5 generations.

From the earliest times, railroaders have embodied the hallmarks of the best aspects of human character; discipline, punctuality, technical aptitude, adaptation to ever changing technologies and the ability to conform to a complex set of rules and regulations.

The heritage of the men and women of the Union Pacific Railroad has long been a catalyst in moving North Platte forward. For the last 140 years, the Union Pacific Railroad employees in North Platte have contributed to the building of our city and our community.

In the Midwest, high-speed rail re-ignites manufacturing

Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo - Feb. 20, 2013

In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama called on us to reignite the engine of economic growth. Here at DOT, we know that investing in America's transportation infrastructure is one way to jump-start that economic engine--through the construction and engineering jobs created right away and through the efficiencies modern infrastructure provides to our nation's businesses.

To see an example of this in action, we need look no further than our own Midwest, where U.S. high-speed rail investments are already boosting economic activity, and where 460 different companies are poised to contribute to the rail supply chain and modernize passenger rail in America.

That means manufacturing growth; it means modernized old-line plants; and it means jobs.

Advocates seek state support for Omaha-Chicago passenger train

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Rail advocates haven't given up hopes of a passenger train resurgence that would link Chicago to Iowa City, Des Moines and Omaha, but questions about the need for government subsidies continue to bog down efforts.

Supporters of enhanced passenger service spoke out last week at the Iowa Statehouse, backed by the president of the Iowa Northern Railroad. They argued for plans to make the infrastructure improvements needed to start passenger service between Chicago and Iowa City, with hopes of later extending trains to Des Moines and Omaha.

Federal transportation officials committed $230 million in late 2010, with the condition that the Iowa and Illinois state governments would help pay for the project. Illinois has come up with money, and plans are moving ahead for extending passenger service to Moline, Ill., across the Mississippi River from Davenport, Iowa.

Paris Ervin, spokeswoman for of the Illinois Department of Transportation, said Illinois agreed to spend $45 million and plans to start service in late 2015.

Advocates argue expanded passenger service is worth the money, but Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has remained skeptical and since 2010 has opposed the needed state match to qualify for federal funding. Asked about spending state money on rail projects, Branstad didn't sound as though he'd changed his mind.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — The day after a snowstorm brought much travel to a halt, a rail official from Maine made a timely case for passenger rail: Trains cut through snow much better than a car.

“Sometimes it's hard to drive. And when the airports close and the roads really aren't very good, there's not much that is going to stop those P42 locomotives,” said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

About 50 people attended a meeting Thursday afternoon in Council Bluffs promoting passenger rail between the Omaha area and Chicago.

IOWA CITY (AP) — Time is running out for Iowa to take advantage of federal funding to expand passenger rail service in the state, according to advocates for a project that's at a standstill.

Several Democratic leaders say millions of dollars in federal funding approved more than two years ago for a passenger rail line between Iowa City and Chicago remain untapped because the Legislature won't agree on matching funds.

“The clock is ticking, and this year is it,” said Rep. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville.

COUNCIL BLUFFS — It's an intriguing proposal — a faster train that zips from Council Bluffs to Chicago in less than 7½ hours.

The train — whose route could extend west to Omaha — would make numerous stops across Iowa, including in Atlantic, Des Moines, Grinnell and Iowa City.

Whether the line ever gets built may hinge on whether Iowa's governor and State Legislature can be convinced that the project is economically feasible.

“Basically, what it boils down to is we need the state money in order to move forward,” said Amanda Martin, policy coordinator of the Iowa Office of Rail Transportation.

DES MOINES, Iowa – A proposed high speed rail corridor between Chicago and Omaha, Neb., would attract 1.3 million passengers a year, reports the Des Moines Register. The planned route would serve Iowa City, Des Moines, and Council Bluffs. The state of Illinois is starting new Chicago to Quad Cities service in 2015.

Republicans in the state recently refused to provide $20.6 million in matching funds to secure an $87 million federal grant awarded in 2010 to extend the Illinois-sponsored service to Iowa City. The current study, provided by HDC Corp. of Omaha, cost $2 million and examined an incremental approach to adding rail service.

Trains would start operating at 79 mph, with an eventual 5 daily round trips operating at 110 mph. Train travel between Chicago and Omaha would take 6.5 hours, compared to 9.5 hours by car.

The trains would use Iowa Interstate Railroad tracks west of a connection with BNSF Railway at Buda, Ill. The former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific route is the only east-west route to serve Des Moines, the state's largest city and its capitol.

Last month, Henry Posner III, chairman of Iowa Interstate and of its parent company Railroad Development Corp. told KCRG-TV, “The railroad is more than willing to work with Amtrak, the states, or anybody else that’s involved in passenger service. Our main business is freight, but one of the benefits of being a railroad is you can do more than one thing at once."

COUNCIL BLUFFS — About 25 people attended a hearing Thursday on a proposed passenger rail line between Omaha and Chicago.

Some questioned the wisdom of spending large amounts of money on a new passenger rail system. Others spoke in support, touting the proposed rail line’s potential environmental benefits, such as reducing vehicle emissions and traffic congestion.

There is not yet a cost estimate or timeline for completing the project, which would use existing rail lines.

Officials project that a train trip would take about 7½ hours from Omaha to Chicago, with speeds reaching 110 mph at times. Officials are considering five round-trips per day between Omaha and Chicago, and seven between Des Moines and Chicago.

Current plans for the rail line call for stops in Omaha, Council Bluffs, Atlantic, Des Moines, Grinnell and Iowa City.

The proposed route is designed to be faster than Amtrak’s California Zephyr, which travels from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay Area with a stop in Omaha. Zephyr speeds are limited to 79 mph.

ProRail Nebraska Updates Its Objectives

Mission: PRN is a member organization that exists to advocate for improved passenger rail transportation serving Nebraska. It is an affiliate of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), which advocates passenger rail service on a national basis. Our proposed priority objectives are:

1. (MIPRC) Nebraska is a member of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC), an association made up of officials appointed by the Governor of ten states in the Midwest. Nebraska’s representatives include two State Senators and two public representatives. MIPRC’s purpose is to coordinate development of passenger rail service in the several Midwest states. Nebraska has not paid annual MIPRC dues ($15,000) for three years and has not taken an active role in this organization. PRN advocates Nebraska’s full and active participation in MIPRC.

2. (NEB-CHI Service) The State of Iowa’s DOT is designing the establishment of a second Chicago – Iowa train service which would be routed through Des Moines and would terminate in Council Bluffs. PRN advocates that this line be established to include service though Omaha terminating in Lincoln. We encourage the State of Nebraska and the cities of Omaha and Lincoln actively support this Iowa DOT project to include a Nebraska extension.

4. (Stations) PRN advocates for the expansion of the use and accessibility of the AMTRAK stations in the state as hubs for all surface public and private passenger transportation systems.

6. (OMA/LNK to KC) PRN advocates for the creation of a passenger rail line from Omaha and Lincoln to Kansas City. The states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri currently are studying and undertaking a passenger line that would connect Dallas-Fort Worth through Oklahoma City/Tulsa and Newton, KS to Kansas City. We encourage the State of Nebraska and the cities of Omaha and Lincoln to actively support and participate in this project to include its extension to Nebraska.

7. (OMA/LNK Commuter) The urban region of Lincoln and Omaha contain the major population centers and growth in Nebraska. PRN advocates establishing commuter public transportation service including commuter trains for this urban region. The State of Nebraska needs to restudy the feasibility for such commuter service.

Opposition to trains nonsensical

It appears that Republicans have declared war on passenger trains. Mitt Romney, who comes from a state with extensive Amtrak service and lots of commuter rail lines to relieve congestion on the area roads, said while campaigning that he will cut Amtrak's budget to zero if elected president.

A Nebraska state senator has introduced a bill to withdraw Nebraska from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact even though the cost is less than nominal to belong. Sen. Mike Johanns can't see the value in having a nice modern, high-speed passenger train from Chicago to Omaha.

Perhaps this is because Republicans think all citizens are rich and want to fly. This is certainly not the case. With the security hassle and airport terminal congestion, a train from Chicago to Omaha and perhaps on to Lincoln is certainly a wise transportation alternative that should be promoted -- especially with gasoline approaching $4 a gallon.

I'm not going to vote for any Republicans who talk such nonsense as not supporting rail passenger service, and I urge other voters to do likewise.

Transportation for America is a coalition seeking to align our national, state, and local transportation policies with an array of issues like economic opportunity, climate change, energy security, health, housing and community development. N.A.R.P. is a member of this coalition.

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