ProRail Nebraska

Dedicated to advocating for improved passenger rail and all forms of surface public transportation serving Nebraska.

We will discuss bills before this session of the Nebraska Legislature affecting railroads and public transit in our state.

Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) is a concept in freight railroad operations pioneered by E. Hunter Harrison first at Illinois Central and then at Canadian National after CN bought the IC. PSR shifts the focus from older practices, such as unit trains, hub and spoke operations and individual car switching at hump yards, to emphasize point-to-point freight car movements on simplified routing networks.

Under PSR, freight trains operate on fixed schedules, much like passenger trains, instead of being dispatched whenever a sufficient number of loaded cars are available. In the past, container trains and general merchandise trains operated separately; under PSR they are combined as needed. Inventories of freight cars and locomotives are reduced and fewer workers are employed for a given level of traffic. The result is often substantial improvement in railroad operating ratios, and other financial and operating metrics. Variations on the method have been adopted by six of the seven North American Class I railroads -- with the notable exception of BNSF.

Although Wall Street loves PSR because of the big boost its given to railroad profits and railroad stock values, most railroad employees and many shippers dislike the changes resulting from PSR.

AFL-CIO's Transportation Trades Department issued an excellent 3-page policy statement on PSR. You can read it here.

Though much of Solutionary Rail is focused on rail electrification and transmission aspects, our 2030 Moonshot Modeshift is an essential ingredient for making the broader Solutionary Rail approach feasible and effective.

The 2030 Moonshot Modeshift takes on the most difficult aspects of decarbonizing land transportation by removing a large portion of combination trucks from the roads and putting that freight onto the rails. Investing in, encouraging and eliminating obstacles to rapid, cost-effective and reliable freight transport by rail will draw freight back to the tracks and create conditions to draw people to the tracks as well. Assisting railroads to pivot toward new market share reduces far more GHG emissions than simply electrifying railroads. Besides GHG emissions reductions, our bold modeshift delivers other societal wins as well: reducing congestion, diesel emissions, costly infrastructure wear and tear, and deaths from collisions. This modeshift does not have to wait for rail electrification, is not dependent on electrification, and therefore ought to begin immediately.

This paper provides additional background on our 2030 Moonshot Modeshift proposal including: 1. an overview of the purpose and problems to be solved, the objectives we need to achieve to solve those problems, the estimated benefits of doing so, the means for accomplishing those objectives, synergistic opportunities, and some known obstacles 2. an improved and updated list of policy recommendations We invite your questions, critique and support.

Union Pacific recently completed Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation, activating its final track segment. The technology is now implemented on all the company's federally mandated rail lines, including required passenger train routes. Union Pacific will continue working with partner railroads on their interoperability efforts, ensuring seamless operation onto the company's tracks.

"PTC is one of the biggest rail industry breakthroughs, designed to keep our crews and communities safer through technology," said Greg Richardson, Union Pacific general director Operating Systems and Practices. "While Union Pacific began its first PTC operations nearly four years ago, we have now completed our initial implementation and continue supporting other railroads in our mutual efforts to achieve interoperability and safely operate on our rail lines."

PTC monitors trains based on a custom analysis of specific factors, including weight, location, speed and a five-mile look down the track. Locomotive engineers respond to computer screen messages, prompting them to take action, such as slowing down. If they do not respond in a timely manner, PTC automatically stops the train.

Union Pacific currently hosts 25 freight and passenger railroads, which must achieve PTC interoperability by December 2020. Sixteen of these railroads are compliant, encompassing 85% of Union Pacific's interoperable PTC train miles. While the company's PTC infrastructure is in operation, Union Pacific continues working with its remaining partner railroads, which are expected to take necessary steps to reach interoperability by mid-2020.

At its October 12, 2019 Board meeting, ProRail Nebraska directors approved the final draft of its updated Mission and Objectives. Click here to view the updated web page. Click here to read the full ProRail Mission and Objectives (a one-page PDF).

The annual fall meeting of the Rail Passengers Association (RPA) took place at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Sacramento, California on October 18-20, 2019. I must confess to having used air transportation as my schedule did not allow time to go via the California Zephyr. I am pleased to report that both the Denver and Sacramento airports use rail guided rubber tired people movers to convey passengers from the concourses to the terminal buildings.

Saturday morning the General Session opened with the theme "Creating Amtrak 2.0". RPA President Jim Matthews noted that because of the good grass roots work by RPA members in the field, especially during the battle to save the Southwest Chief, and staff efforts to gather and disseminate information to members of congress and the Federal Railroad Administration, congress is now coming to RPA for information and advice about Amtrak!

California Council Representative Doug Kerr followed with "California Passenger Rail - 50 Years of Improvement". Fifty years ago California was the land of automobiles and Los Angeles was the car capitol of the U.S. Today LA Union Station hosts 90 trains and over 100,000 passengers a day. Plans are in place for the station to support the new high speed rail system being built, the size of the underground passageways to the platforms is being doubled, and to make it a through track operation instead of a stub end terminal. California has three of the top five Amtrak corridor services, BART, five light rail systems, and SMART.

Click here to read Jim's full 9-page report including many color photos (PDF file).

According to Amtrak's preliminary Fiscal Year 2019 (Oct. 1, 2018-Sept. 30, 2019) report, the railroad set ridership, revenue and financial performance records toward its FY 2020 goal of "achieving operational break-even."

Preliminary results for FY2019 include operating revenue of $3.3 billion, a 3.6% increase over FY2018; an operating loss of $29.8 million, a $140.9 million, or 82.6% improvement, from FY2018’s $170.6 million operating loss; capital investment of $1.6 billion, 9.4% higher than the prior year; and 32.5 million customer trips, a year-over-year increase of 800,000.

A change to the so-called "Arbitration Clause" buried deep within Amtrak's "Terms and Conditions" for ticket sales that stipulates mandatory arbitration--effectively, preventing passengers from filing lawsuits against Amtrak 'including, but not limited to, claims for negligence, gross negligence, physical impairment, disfigurement, pain and suffering, mental anguish, wrongful death, survival actions, loss of consortium and/or services, medical and hospital expenses, expenses of transportation for medical treatment, expenses of drugs and medical appliances, emotional distress, exemplary or punitive damages arising out of or related to any personal injury," has captured the attention of legislators and passenger rail advocates.

The 488-word Arbitration Clause (click here to read the article with the full text) appears two-thirds of the way into Amtrak's 15,500-word Terms and Conditions. The modification to the clause occurred earlier this year, closely following a $265 million court settlement resulting from Amtrak's May 12, 2015 Frankford Junction overspeed derailment in Philadelphia on the Northeast Corridor, in which eight people died and 238 were injured. The clause received almost no attention until Nov. 8, when Politico broke the story. It is expected to be addressed at a Nov. 13 House Transportation Committee Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials hearing on Amtrak, and has also caught the attention of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has Amtrak oversight.

Federal law prohibits airlines from such a practice, but bus operators, cruise ship lines and rideshare companies already have such an arbitration clause that prohibits post-crash passenger/survivor lawsuits.

The first ORBT 60-foot articulated bus powered by CNG manufactured in Alabama. (Photo: O-Metro)

Construction on the new stations for Omaha's first bus rapid transit system is in full swing.

The work marks some solid progress for an ORBT (Omaha Rapid Bus Transit) project that has been years in the making. But it also means Dodge Street drivers will experience lane closures and traffic disruption for the coming weeks.

Along the north side of Dodge Street, station construction is underway at 33rd Street near Mutual of Omaha and Midtown Crossing; 42nd Street; 49th Street; 62nd Street by the University of Nebraska at Omaha; 72nd Street by Crossroads Mall; 84th Street; and just west of 90th Street.

At Westroads, construction is ongoing at the existing Metro transit station to make adjustments for the ORBT line. That will be ORBT's westernmost station and a turnaround point for buses looping between Westroads Mall and downtown.

"ORBT's really starting to take shape in a variety of ways," said Jason Rose, Metro's outreach coordinator.

As station construction proceeds, contractor Dimensional Innovations continues to build the canopies for each station at its Overland Park, Kansas, location. Also last week, a team from Metro visited the New Flyer of America bus manufacturing plant in Anniston, Alabama, to inspect the first ORBT bus, Rose said.

Jason Rose will be one of our guest speakers at the December 7th Transportation Symposium. (See top of this web page for details.)

StarTran Transit Manager Mike Davis said the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has finalized its data that show Lincoln transit ridership increased about 3.6 percent from 2017 to 2018. The increase of about 85,000 riders earned StarTran the award for largest increase in ridership of urban systems in Nebraska.

The FTA had previously presented StarTran with an award for the largest ridership increase in the four-state region. The FTA now says that award was based on "draft" figures showing a 27 percent increase in Lincoln's ridership.

Davis said the increase in ridership coincided with the implementation of the Transit Development Plan in 2016. Ridership was down 3.2 percent from 2014 to 2015 and 5.8 percent from 2015 to 2016 before increasing 4.5 percent from 2016 to 2017.

Mike David will be one of our speakers at our Transportation Symposium December 7th followed by a ride in Downtown Lincoln on one of StarTran's rubber-tired trolley buses.

Establishment of improved public transportation service between Omaha and Lincoln has been a long-time goal of ProRail Nebraska. Although Burlington Trailways and ExpressArrow each offer one pair of Omaha - Denver daily bus schedules via Lincoln, there is no existing commuter bus service in this corridor.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation is conducting a feasibility study on a Lincoln to Omaha intercity bus route. The study will include needs, gaps and strategies for proposed transit routes between the two cities.

"We continue to work with our transportation partners to deliver statewide mobility by providing enhanced transportation choices to Nebraskans," said NDOT Director Kyle Schneweis. "Gauging the interest of Nebraska motorists in a Lincoln to Omaha intercity bus route is an important step in meeting our goal of maximizing existing transportation resources." But what about non-motorists?

Nebraska residents are encouraged to attend any of the open house meetings, scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Greenwood Fire Hall (251 Broad Street, Greenwood, NE 68366)

Thursday, September 5, 2019, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the Lancaster County Extension Office (444 Cherrycreek Rd., Lincoln, NE 68528)

Friday, September 6, 2019, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army Omaha Kroc Center (2825 Y Street, Omaha, NE 68107)

The project is part of Nebraska's Mobility Management program, which is expected to coordinate and improve transportation options for Nebraskans. Anticipated completion of the study is spring of 2020.

"We look forward to working with our consultant and University partners to facilitate coordination among transportation providers and improving mobility options across the state," said Kari Ruse, NDOT Transit Manager.

ProRail Nebraska's Board recently voted to join the Western Interstate Trains Coalition.

Alarmed by the recent threats to Amtrak's long-distance passenger train network, especially the Southwest Chief, a new coalition has emerged to protect the network. This May All Aboard Arizona, RailPAC (California), ColoRail (Colorado) and Rail Passengers Association (RPA) of Washington, DC, formed the Western National Network Trains Coalition. It developed a battle plan to mobilize a grassroots effort to convince Congress that it's time for an Amtrak business plan that not only preserves the National Network but expands it. Population growth in the West has far outstripped growth in the Northeast Corridor, yet they have a 150-mph rail speedway with frequent service while most of Amtrak's Western Network copes with a single daily train or one that only runs three days a week.

The Coalition has a full-time paid Executive Director, Tony Trifiletti, who has been assigned by RailPAC and All Aboard Arizona, to coordinate the efforts of the Western National Network Trains Coalition. In this new role, he will be working with the Rail Passenger Association (RPA) and other state rail advocacy organizations, to communicate with all local political governments, civic organizations, and economic development and tourist agencies, served by western Amtrak National Network Trains.

ProRail Nebraska accepted the invitation to join the Coalition and will contribute $400 to help support its efforts.

Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird recently urged the City Council to ask our congressional delegation to support grant requests for autonomous vehicles in the city.

The planned use for these AVs would have them circulating in the downtown area from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to the Haymarket and to the State Capitol and Innovation Campus. This represents a high-profile, glitzy idea, but it's not the only way the vehicles can be employed.

Instead, there are as host of reasons to focus use of the AVs in outlying parts of Lincoln rather than in the downtown core.

These vehicles should perform a helpful role in a total transportation system for Lincoln. A problem facing transportation systems in all cities is something called the "last mile" and its counterpart, the "first mile." This refers to a way to get people from their front doorstep to the nearest bus stop and getting them back home.

On Nov. 1, 2016, StarTran revamped its system to move bus routes from residential streets to arterials as recommended in the updated transportation development plan. This move, coupled with having buses stop at designated locations instead of every corner outside the downtown area as it previously had, has expedited bus times.

This change has benefited some and inconvenienced others. Bus riders used to catching a bus near home may have to walk a greater distance. For some riders with disabilities, these few blocks are an insurmountable barrier. Almost three years after the big change, I still hear people talking about the difficulty of riding StarTran buses.

Using large, conventional, 40-seat buses to circulate through residential neighborhoods is not cost effective. However, an AV system using small shuttles as circulators and collectors, bringing people from home to bus stops and back, would solve the first mile and last mile problems. Rather than using them downtown, employing them in outlying areas makes a great deal of sense for many reasons.

The mayor stated that AVs are capable of speeds between 15 mph and 25 mph. With plans to serve the capitol and Innovation Campus, the vehicles would have to traverse some streets with 35 mph speed limits. AVs would impede traffic flow of driver-operated vehicles on these streets.

The megabucks spent for AVs could be better invested in proven technology or simply in hastening the conversion of the StarTran fleet to battery-electric buses or accelerating the implementation of the phase changes recommended by the consultants who updated the transportation development plan.

I'm concerned that the mayor's push may make Lincoln residents human guinea pigs at risk with AVs that aren't yet perfected. Let's take a lesson from NASA: We did a lot of orbital shots before the moon launch to make sure we got it right!

If we must have AVs, let's be smart about it and use them outside the downtown area. I recognize that a feeder system outside the city's core may not have the same glitz and glamour as using them downtown, but it makes better sense.

On July 24th the Lincoln Journal Star published a guest editorial by ProRail Nebraska Board Member & Treasurer, Ralph Haden entitled "New terminal isn't StarTran's only need." In addition to a new Downtown transit terminal, Ralph suggests that StarTran needs to develop more of a grid route system to provide better service between more origin-destination pairs in Lincoln. Today most of StarTran routes are based on a hub and spoke system based on Downtown.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently announced that 45 projects in 29 states will benefit from $326-plus million in grant money under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program and the Special Transportation Circumstances (STC) Program.

The funds, FRA noted, will go toward "a wide variety of state and local railroad infrastructure projects," and over one-third of the funds-more than $118 million-were awarded to rural projects.

Nebraska Central Railroad, one of the rural projects, was awarded up to $8,181,640 for infrastructure improvements. The funds will be used to improves about 30 timber bridges, replace approximately five other timber bridges with a steel beam span or rail girder bridges, replaces degraded rail along 7 miles of mainline track and replace defective ties along the entire 320-mile Nebraska Central Railroad's tracks in northeastern and central Nebraska.

ProRail President Matt Roque welcoming attendees to the Annual Meeting (Richard Schmeling photo)

Nebraska Senator Justin Wayne started off with an excellent presentation at our Meeting on Public Transportation about passage of his LB 492 Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority Act in this session of the Legislature. (See article below). He explained how he had to accept amendments that restricted the Act to just the Omaha Metropolitan Area. However, changes to the bill also expanded the coverage area from the 8-county Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) to the 9-county Combined MSA which includes Dodge County where Fremont is located. Sen. Wayne now challenges us to lobby the Omaha Metro Transit Board of Directors to start the process of becoming a Regional MTA.

Sen. Dan Quick told us about his efforts to get LB401 out of the Transportation & Telecommunications Committee. (Scroll down to read Richard Schmeling's article about LB401.) Sen. Quick introduced LR 190, a Legislative Resolution for a study to examine Nebraska's history of involvement in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact. One or more hearings for LR190 will likely be scheduled in late Summer or early Fall. Now we need to lobby the senators on the T&T Committee to schedule hearing(s) for LR190.

Amanda Martin, Iowa DOT Freight & Passenger Rail Coordinator, participated by phone and provided a brief update on Iowa DOT's work. We were excited to hear that Illinois DOT has dusted off plans for its Chicago - Moline rail passenger service, and Iowa DOT is working on a study to extend that service from the Quad Cities to Iowa City. This may initially take the form of an Amtrak Thruway Bus Service, and eventually extend further west to Des Moines. Nebraska DOT should consider Thruway Bus connections from some California Zephyr stations.

Greg Youell, Executive Director for the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA), welcomed us to their shared MAPA-Omaha Metro facilities. He told us about the multi-modal transportation planning work MAPA is sponsoring, especially Heartland 2050.

In addition to handling arrangements for the meeting at O-Metro Headquarters, Jason Rose, Outreach Coordinator for O-Metro, made an excellent presentation with an update on the Dodge Street BRT (ORBT) Project and other projects being implemented or planned like MyRide OMA.

ModeShift Omaha, which co-sponsored the meeting, advocates for transportation options that enhance quality of life and opportunities for everyone to live, work, and play. Kevin Flatowicz, Chair of MSO, introduced the audience to MSO and its Transit Team which sponsors monthly Ride the Bus With Us events. Click here to view a list of MSO Action Teams.

Crystal Edwards, Chair of MSO's Walkability Team, showed a short video she produced "When the Sidewalk Ends in Omaha" which does an excellent job communicating the problems pedestrians experience in Omaha, especially when confronted with closed or damaged sidewalks from construction projects. Click here to view the video, and then sign the petition to demand a better sidewalk policy for Omaha. Remember, good transit service requires good pedestrian access!

Our last presenter was Richard Schmeling with Lincoln's Citizens For Improved Transit (CFIT). Scroll down to read Richard's May 16th article "Progress at Lincoln's StarTran Transit System."

After the meeting Jason led the group on a tour of the O-Metro bus garage, shops and dispatch center.

A big THANK YOU to Omaha Metro and all our presenters! And thanks to PRN President Matt Roque for chairing the event, a difficult task keeping us on schedule given all the questions from the audience!

On May 30th Governor Ricketts vetoed LB492 - the Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority Act introduced by Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. The Governor justified his veto based on his belief that "LB492 would amount to an incredible $17 million property tax increase for Omaha and Douglas County residents, and could lead to higher property taxes in Sarpy County communities as well."

On Friday, May 31st, the Legislature voted 33 to 16 to override the Governor's veto, so LB492 becomes law.

However, if Omaha Metro Transit chooses to become a regional transit agency, it can only expand its territory with a two-thirds vote of the governing body for the area to be annexed. For example, if O-Metro were to expand to the unincorporated areas of Douglas County, the Douglas County Board of Supervisors would have to approve by a two-thirds vote. So LB492 does not automatically impose a property tax increase on residents not already in the current taxing jurisdiction of Omaha Metro.

Click here to read the transcript of the LB492 debate and vote on the LB492 Veto Override on May 31, 2019.

Come to the ProRail-ModeShift Meeting on Public Transit on Saturday, June 8, 9:00 AM. Scroll up for details on this webpage.

Update on LB 401
To Reestablish Nebraska Membership in the MIPRC
By Richard Schmeling - May 16, 2019 (additional update 6/4/2019)

[Note: Scroll down for more articles about LB401 dated January 20th & January 31st.]

LB401 remains stalled in the Transportation & Telecommunications Committee and will not move forward unless we can come up with outside money to pay the annual MIPRC dues (about $15,000/yr). Sen. Quick is working with the cities of Hastings, Holdrege and McCook to see if they will contribute toward the dues. I have contacted the mayors in Lincoln and Omaha about contributing, and Bob Kuzelka is working with the Railroad Transportation District in Lincoln to help on the dues. I have also sounded out the Omaha and Lincoln Chambers of Commerce offices about helping on the funding.

I have written the Nebraska Congressional delegation urging them to include funding for continuation of the long distance trains in the new Federal budget and will contact them soon. Other ProRail members should write letters, also.

Handouts for Nebraska Amtrak stations are being prepared and will be placed in Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook to urge Amtrak riders to write letters to Congress.

Additional Update: Sen. Quick introduced LR190 with co-sponsors Senators Walz and McDonnell. Title: Interim study to examine Nebraska's history of involvement in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact. One or more hearings for LR190 will likely be scheduled in late Summer or early Fall.

StarTran ridership continues to increase at about 5% compared to ridership during the previous year. New smart phone applications have gone online to help riders track buses and to do trip planning using a smart phone.

With recent new bus deliveries, the StarTran bus fleet is about 50% CNG (compressed natural gas) buses. A new CNG fueling facility will be installed this summer at the StarTran garage. Currently CNG buses have to deadhead to Sapp Brothers truck stop on Cornhusker Highway to refuel.

StarTran recently implemented an "Assigned Bus" system that assigns each bus driver to a specific numbered bus for their route. Previously buses were taken at random from the bus garage as drivers came on duty with each driver taking the next bus in line. This often resulted in the short (200 series) buses going out on busy routes or being used as a booster bus for school hauls. Overcrowding resulted, and with the new assigned bus system the properly-sized bus will be assigned to each route.

Work is underway to improve bus stops on the StarTran system. A partnership between StarTran and Lincoln Public Schools is resulting in the improvement of several bus stops serving schools with LPS paying for the pouring of concrete pads with StarTran installing a bench or shelter.

In addition, StarTran will place a bench or bench/shelter at about 34 bus stops on the system this summer.

The recent election in Lincoln has put in place a new Mayor and City Council which will be "transit friendly" at budget time. Thus implementation of Phases 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the update of the Transit Development Plan will likely move forward.

For the past several years Solutionary Rail (SR) has organized a people-powered campaign for getting America's railroads transitioning to a decarbonized mode of freight and passenger transportation. SR's primary goal is to electrify America's railroads. Much of what SR has done has been inspired by the Steel Interstate Coalition (https://steelinterstate.org/) and RAIL Solution (http://railsolution.org/) movements.

To help communicate it goal, SR has published a book Solutionary Rail - a people-powered campaign to electrify America's railroads and open doors to a clean energy future. A PDF copy of the 108-page book can be downloaded for free by going to this website https://www.solutionaryrail.org/ebook and entering the coupon code "4WRD2GTHR".

SR also has a 3.5 minute introductory video http://SolutionaryRail.org/video that explains its goals and the advantages of railroad electrification.

BNSF Railway is the largest freight railroad network in North America. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway (BH). Since all BNSF trains are powered by diesel-fueled locomotives, the railroad is one of the nation's largest consumers of diesel fuel.

SR decided to target BNSF in its effort to promote electrification. The BH Annual Meeting in Omaha May 4^th was a perfect opportunity. SR and Nebraska Sierra Club decided to schedule a program to educate the public about Solutionary Rail and its railroad electrification goals. The Electrified Railroad as a Win for America program was held at UNO's Community Engagement Center at 5:30 PM on Friday, May 3^rd. There were a lot of questions asked during Bill's presentation and afterwards at a pizza reception.

Saturday morning volunteers held the Solutionary Rail banner outside the CHI Health Convention Center/Arena while the hordes of people lined up to enter the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting. (Photo by Bill Moyer)

Thanks to Mark Hefflinger with Bold Nebraska, Bill was able to get BH credentials to attend the meeting. Once inside Mark Welsch of Nebraskans for Peace, who has done this many times before, guided Bill to enter the drawing for those wishing to ask questions of Warren Buffet at the Q &A Session. And Bill's number was drawn first and got to ask the first question!

Go to https://www.shorturl.at/wzCQS to view Bill Moyer asking his question and the responses from Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger. Warren said SR could talk to Carl Ice, who is BNSF's new CEO. Then Charlie Munger added that SR is not only "on the side of the angels" but that electrification will come and that "Greg Abel will decide that." Greg is the vice chairman of BH for non-insurance business and the CEO of BH Energy. MidAmerican Energy Company, Iowa's largest electric utility is a wholly owned subsidiary of BH and noted for its extensive development of renewable wind energy.

ProRail Nebraska supports LB492 and thanks Senator Wayne for introducing this bill as a follow-up to the hearings on LR399 held last year. On April 18 the Urban Affairs Committee voted this bill out of committee to General File. It is one of the Committee's priority bills.

ProRail believes that improved transit services in Nebraska metropolitan areas will make them less car-centric, encourage higher-density energy-efficient development, make our cities more attractive to young skilled workers who want to avoid car-dependent lifestyles, and improve the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

LB492 would allow municipalities to create regional metropolitan transit authorities (RMTAs) within the boundaries of a MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area). Existing transit agencies like Omaha Metro could choose to become RMTAs.

The service areas Omaha Metro and Lincoln's StarTran are limited to the boundaries of their respective cities. Several surrounding communities like La Vista and Papillion contract with Omaha Metro for limited weekday rush-hour services. But these municipalities cannot join Omaha Metro under the existing Metropolitan Transit Authority Law.

Omaha Metro operations are primarily funded by property tax revenue from taxable property in the City of Omaha. Farebox revenue covers only about 15% of operating expenses.

If LB492 is enacted and Omaha Metro chooses to become a Regional Metropolitan Transit Authority, any Nebraska municipality within the Omaha MSA could, upon a two-thirds favorable vote of the municipality's governing body, join the RMTA of Omaha. The RMTA would benefit from the increased property tax revenue from the new member's taxable property. Thus this Act provides a mechanism to expand both the transit authority's territory and property tax revenue.

Another nice feature of LB492 is that it requires that RMTAs be governed by an elected, not appointed, seven-member Board. This has the potential of making Board members more responsive to the needs and concerns of the public.

A limitation of LB492 is it doesn't provide any new sources of income. RMTAs would still be primarily dependent on property tax income. Some transit agencies, like Kansas City, are also funded by sales tax revenue and business district assessments.

The Rail Passengers Association has released 2018 Amtrak fact sheets by states, stations, business lines, routes, and congressional districts. Click here to view the 2018 Fact Sheet for the California Zephyr route. Click here to select other fact sheets.

RPA 2018 Fall Advocacy Summit Report
By Jim Hanna - PRN Director District 4 - February 11, 2019

The Rail Passengers Association held their 2018 Fall Advocacy Summit in Miami, Florida from October 19-21. The location was selected to provide the attendees the opportunity to experience the new Brightline passenger service firsthand. I would like to have traveled by Amtrak, but that would have entailed a combination of the California Zephyr from Omaha to Chicago, the Capitol Limited from Chicago to Washington, D.C., and either the Silver Meteor or Silver Star from Washington to Miami, a trip consuming 60+ hours each way, and I had commitments at home that would not allow me to be gone that long. The chance of all three trains making connections on time was also an issue, as was the substitution of boxed meals for dining car service on the Capitol Limited. One of the true pleasures of train travel is the opportunity to socialize with other travelers, and the dining car is the best place to enjoy that.

The failure of the Legislature to pass to restore Nebraska's membership in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact (MIPRC) results in the state losing its voice on passenger rail matters.

Nebraska was a charter member of the compact until former state Sen. Bill Kintner's bill succeeded in terminating Nebraska's participation because he couldn't see how the state benefited from its membership. But Nebraska now has a chance to regain its say.

Grand Island Sen. Dan Quick has introduced LB401, which would return Nebraska to the MIPRC -- and 10 senators have cosigned onto his legislation.

MIPRC was formed to provide central planning for passenger rail service in 10 Midwestern states. It also serves as a collective for rail passenger trains and lobbies on behalf of adequate funding for Amtrak.

This proposed rail service would be in addition to the long-distance California Zephyr trains currently running through Nebraska at night. The plan is to run passenger trains out of a Chicago hub in multiple directions to major cities.

Several of these lines are already in operation. A line from Chicago to Omaha was planned, and it would be easy to extend this service to Lincoln. With Nebraska falling out, it's possible that the trains through Illinois and Iowa will terminate in Council Bluffs, which would be inconvenient for Nebraska residents.

Nebraskans want passenger trains. A statewide poll conducted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Bureau of Sociological Research showed that a majority of citizens support funding for Amtrak, want rail commuter service between Lincoln and Omaha and desire to see more and better rail passenger service in Nebraska.

However, getting Nebraskans to put passenger rail on their radar scope is difficult. Unless they have gone out of state and experienced good, frequent rail service or ridden Amtrak, they are unaware of its potential.

Now that Nebraska has a Department of Transportation rather than a Department of Roads -- under which rail planning suffered -- it would be refreshing to see the department look at rail passenger possibilities rather than expend all its energies in designing four-lane expressways. I see a change at Nebraska DOT and a start at meaningful rail planning.

Quick's LB401 will restore Nebraska's membership in MIPRC, and it is hoped that the Legislature will see the wisdom of rejoining and continuing in the compact.

We don't have a currently rail passenger plan in Nebraska, and, as a result, federal taxes in Nebraska are sent to other states -- and Nebraska receives no federal rail passenger funding.

Therefore, we hope Gov. Pete Ricketts will get on board this train and direct the DOT to bring the state's rail passenger planning up to date.

While most other states have moved forward in the area of passenger and commuter rail, Nebraska has done little to nothing. The state needs to wake up and catch up. If we don't continue in the MIPRC, our chances for federal rail passenger funding are slim to none.

Senator Quick Introduces LB 401
To Reestablish Nebraska Membership in the MIPRC
By Clyde Anderson - January 20, 2019

On January 17th ProRail Nebraska ally Senator Dan Quick (35-Grand Island) introduced legislation that would enable Nebraska to rejoin the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact. LB 401 had 10 co-sponsors: Kate Bolz (29-Lincoln), Machaela Cavanaugh (6-Omaha), Ben Hansen (26-Lincoln), Sara Howard (9-Omaha), Megan Hunt (8-Omaha), Mike McDonnell (5-Omaha), Adam Morfeld (46-Lincoln), Patty Pansing Brooks (28-Lincoln), Lynne Walz (15-Fremont), and Anna Wishart (27-Lincoln).

In addition to having Nebraska rejoin the MIPRC, the bill establishes the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Cash Fund. In addition to money appropriated by the Legislature, the fund could accept gifts, grants, or bequests from any source, including federal, state, public, and private sources. State funding Nebraska's participation in the MIPRC has been an issue, and this would allow funds from other sources to be used. Annual dues for MIPRC membership is less than $25,000. There is also the travel expenses for the four Nebraska members of the Commission to attend MIPRC meetings.

If you live in one of the districts listed above, please thank your senator for their support of LB401. Otherwise, encourage your senator to sign on as a cosponsor of LB401 and/or support Nebraska rejoining the MIPRC.

Click here to view a PDF document list reasons why Nebraska should rejoin the MIPRC.

January 18, 2019 - After months of having to endure mostly cold boxed food - what some critics dubbed "Unhappy Meals" - on two Amtrak long-distance routes, the New York-Chicago Lake Shore Limited and the Washington D.C.-Chicago Capitol Limited, sleeping car passengers on those trains now can choose from several hot food choices on the menu.

When Amtrak, under President and CEO Richard Anderson (a former airline executive whose reputation with employees and customers was, according to some accounts, less than favorable), instituted cold food in a box soon after he took office and called it "Contemporary Dining," there was a huge outcry. Apparently, the often-vocal complaining, which involved Amtrak unionized employees, worked. What Amtrak is now calling "Contemporary Dining Improvements" includes three hot entrées and "deluxe breakfast choices," up from one hot-meal choice brought back in July 2018.

Sleeping car customers can now choose the following, with meals delivered to their Bedrooms or Roomettes, "or eaten in their private dining car," Amtrak said. Lunch and Dinner hot items are Chicken Penne Alfredo, Beef Provencal and Asian Noodle Bowl (there is a chilled item, an Antipasto Plate). Deluxe Continental Breakfast hot items are Oatmeal and a Breakfast Sandwich. (Chilled items are Muffins, Yogurt, Fresh Fruit, Hard-boiled Eggs and Cereals.) Customers are also offered unlimited soft beverages, a complimentary serving of beer, wine or a mixed-drink during their trip and an amenity kit, all included in their fares. A Kosher meal is provided with advance notice and children's meals are also available. Menus for both trains are on Amtrak.com.

ProRail requested UNL's Bureau of Business Research to add four passenger rail-related questions to its Nebraska Annual Social Indicator Survey (NASIS) which was conducted last Fall. Responses to the four questions were favorable indicating a strong support for rail passenger service by Nebraska residents. Click here to view the summary.

Results will be available for use in our legislative work in the 2017 Unicameral Session.