[IL-Talk] URGENT! F Y I: I sent to il-talk, the List Serve of National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

Tue Jun 23 19:42:56 UTC 2020

Hi Steve,

I just sent Durbin a note telling him to support the cause. Thanks for 
sending this out.

Robert H.

On 6/22/2020 11:49 AM, Steve Hastalis via IL-Talk wrote:
> Hi.  All.  I have forwarded this correspondence from the Rail Users Network
> (RUN) Here is our call to action to RUN members. It is based on input
> received from members of our Legislative Committee.  Be sure to reach out to
> your Reps and Senators in your state.  Thanks for all that you do.  Richard.
> This correspondence supports the numerous resolutions NFB has passed
> protesting service cuts, calling for more and better Amtrak and regional and
> urban public transit service.
>
>   
>
> Dear RUN members.
>
>   
>
> URGENT!
>
>   
>
> -Amtrak has recently announced that most long-distance trains will be cut
> back to three-day-a-week service as of Oct. 1.
>
>   
>
> -After July 4 there will no longer be two daily trains to Florida. (Auto
> Train not included)
>
> We need your help convincing Amtrak not to cut back services!!
>
> Please be aware of these points when contacting your Legislators!
>
> -Congress has provided $1.475 billion dollars to Amtrak through the passage
> of the Cares Act to cover revenue lost resulting from decreased ridership
> during the Covid 19 Crisis.  Lost revenue is not a legitimate reason to cut
> services.
>
> -Amtrak President William Flynn has deep ties to the airline industry which
> will benefit from the service reduction, as they serve the same customer
> base. This represents a potential conflict-of-loyalties, which must be given
> oversight and scrutiny.
>
> -The proposal to introduce "less-than-daily" service on all long-distance
> routes except the Auto-Train in FY 2021 smacks of a conscious effort to
> dismantle the national system altogether.
>
> -Reduction of schedules in the 1990's cost Amtrak more in lost revenue than
> it was able to gain from lesser expenses, given the fixed cost nature of the
> operation.
>
>    
>
> -Ridership is coming back: long-distance ticket revenues climbed 71%, from
> $6.8 million to $11.6 million, between April and May, operating with
> approximately the same frequencies, Northeast Corridor billing rose about
> 60% from $1.5 million to $2.4 million, and state-supported trains generated
> less than a 50% increase, from $2.3 million in April to $3.5 million in May.
> "The existing long-distance service provided almost double the May revenue
> of Corridor and state-supported operations combined."
>
> RUN's Board of Directors is reaching out to Representative Peter Defazio,
> the Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
> as well as Senator Roger Wicker who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce,
> Science and Transportation, to express our concerns on behalf of rail
> passengers across America.
>
>   
>
> We need your help!  Please contact your congressional representatives and
> U.S senators. Political action is key, as members of Congress and the Senate
> have not only the authority, but also the responsibility to make sure that
> Amtrak operates in the public interest. Please call or write to your elected
> officials. Ask them to reach out to their counterparts, especially those who
> represent voters who live in rural America, where daily train service is
> vital.
>
>   
>
> Here are some additional points that can be used to convey your concerns
> regarding Amtrak's long-distance train service:
>
> 1.            As the pandemic eases, cutting service is absolutely the wrong
> message to send to bring customers back to Amtrak.
>
> 2.            Amtrak has gotten a lot of federal money, so where is it going
> if service is getting cut nationwide?
>
> 3.            All trains should be DAILY! A customer should not have to
> consult a calendar to see if their train is running on any given day!
>
> 4.            States have contributed a lot of money to have their trains
> run between important centers of commerce and education. If service cuts are
> allowed to occur, will States be getting refunds?
>
> 5.            Trains are one of the chief links between large cities and
> small towns all across the US.  By cutting long-distance trains back to
> tri-weekly, isn't that a not-so-subliminal message that residents and
> visitors to small towns don't really matter?
>
> 6.            Rural areas served by Amtrak have little bus or air service.
>
> 7.            Dispersed populations (small towns) are a way to minimize the
> impact of the coronavirus on the population, but to encourage such
> lifestyles, transportation choices are needed.
>
> 8.            Our main economic competitor, which is rapidly overtaking the
> USA, China, is building thousands of miles of intercity passenger railroads
> and launching hundreds of passenger trains every year.
>
> 9.            Daily long-distance passenger rail service is an alternative
> which provides a safe, smooth all- weather ride; is popular with all ages,
> classes and colors of people, and serves a as a brake on climate change.
>
> Please let us know when you have contacted your elected officials, either
> through a phone call or email to their staff member(s) who deals with
> transportation issues.
>
>   
>
> This is a RUN call-to-action and gives us the opportunity to express our
> vision and show our strength.
>
>   
>
> Thank you very much.  Be well and stay safe.
>
>   
>
> Richard Rudolph, Ph.D.
>
> Chairman, Rail Users' Network
>
> rrudolph1022 at gmail.com
>
>   
>
> June 21, 2020
>
>   
>
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