ProRail Nebraska Mission and Goals

ProRail Nebraska's Mission:

ProRail Nebraska is a not-for-profit organization founded to inform the citizens of Nebraska about the benefits of railroads and to promote balanced, efficient transportation - both freight and passenger - in Nebraska and the Nation.

As an independent state affiliate of the National Association of Railroad Passengers (NARP), ProRail Nebraska is dedicated to supporting and advocating for railroad service in the state of Nebraska.

Our Goals are to:

> Work to establish light rail and commuter rail serving Omaha and Lincoln

> Reinstate frequent train service to Kansas City, Missouri

> Restore the Omaha Burlington Station as a place for the general public to enjoy again

> Inform the people of Nebraska on the benefits of rail transportation: Commuter Rail, Light Rail, and Intercity Rail

> Change the "roads and airports only" mentality of state and local government

> Help preserve, maintain, and improve Amtrak facilities in Nebraska

> Help maintain and preserve rail corridors for further transportation needs (Rail Banking)

> Strongly support High Speed Rail in the Midwest and other designated corridors

ProRail Nebraska Resolution
In Support of Amtrak Maintaining Long Distance Passenger Trains

Whereas, Amtrak requires financial assistance to maintain its current long distance trains, and

Whereas, those trains include the California Zephyr, w hich has stops at Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Holdrege and McCook, Nebraska and

Whereas, the Amtrak Reform Council has concluded that Amtrak will not be self-sufficient by the deadline of December, 2002, and

Whereas, more than 382,865 people boarded or detrained the Zephyr in Nebraska during 2001, and

Whereas, Amtrak provides a valuable transportation resource to the people of Nebraska and the nation, and

Whereas, immediately following the events of 9/11, Amtrak honored airline tickets, providing a viable alternative for travelers returning home from New York and Washington, D.C., and

Whereas, Amtrak continues to provide the infrastructure and equipment necessary to move people and materials in the event of national disaster,

Therefore, be it resolved that Congress and the President must provide for the continuation of long distance rail passenger service, and

Be it further resolved that the California Zephyr should continue to serve Nebraskans in the current manner, and

Be it further resolved that efforts be intensified toward a longer range goal of providing two trains a day in each direction on a given route, thus increasing the total number of riders. Schedule a train using the same route and stops as the California Zephyr, but with different departure and arrival times, resulting in daylight hours travel through Nebraska, eastbound and westbound, and

Be it further resolved that passenger rail be fully funded to provide an alternative national transportation system in the event of national disaster and emergency.

Approved by ProRail Nebraska, an independent state affiliate of the National Association of Railroad Passengers, on February 16, 2002.

Click here to read about the HISTORY OF PRORAIL NEBRASKA