HSR Summit

Eugene High Speed Rail Summit—March 9, 2010

by Jon Nuxoll

Incremental rail improvements, distinctions between “higher” and
“high” speed rail, stable funding sources, and interstate and
international cooperation were among themes that emerged in
conclusions from 100 participants in the Northwest Corridor Rail
Summit Conference on Tuesday, March 9 At Lane Community College’s
Center for Learning and Meeting in Eugene, Oregon.  About 15
speakers addressed participants in the all-day summit.  Rod Diridon,
Sr., Executive Director of the Mineta Institute and a board member
of the California High-Speed Rail Authority was keynote speaker.
State Representatives Terry Beyer, House Transportation Committee
chair, and Nancy Nathanson also moderated panel sessions.

Former Eugene Mayor Ruth Bascom, instrumental in helping begin
Cascades service in the 1990s, was recognized with an award of
appreciation.

Leaders and industry experts from as far away as France spoke on
what needs to happen for better rail service to come to Oregon, and
what can happen with more and faster trains.

Minimal federal high-speed rail grants to Oregon compared with
substantial awards to Washington and California underscore how
Oregon needs to step up its state support for rail.

Funding is a key roadblock to expanding service in Oregon, according
to Oregon Transportation Commission Chairwoman Gail Achterman, who
proposed a mileage-based tax based on vehicle miles driven as a
possible funding source, and Oregon Rail Division Director Kelly
Taylor added that Oregon’s neighbors were in better position to
receive federal matching funds because of their record of past
support for rail with shovel-ready proposals in place.  Because many
programs award matching funds in proportion to the amount of local
investment, Oregon requires legislative action and appropriations to
fund preliminary studies and engineering in order to be able to
leverage matching funds through Connect Oregon or federal matching
programs.  Keynote speaker Rod Diridon, Sr. encouraged Oregonians to
waste no time in getting started on this now-overdue assignment.

Denis Doute from SNCF, the French national railroad, spoke of how
France’s TGV high-speed rail has attracted a significant share of
the under-500-mile travel market.  High-speed rail in the United
States will significantly reduce airport congestion and allow
airlines to focus on longer-haul flights.  Because fuel expense is a
major component of airline costs, with the highest fuel consumption
being upon take-off and ascent to cruising altitude, a modal shift
towards rail for short-hop travel yields a triple-win in terms of
reduced oil dependency, reduced greenhouse gases, and reduced
congestion and related delays from airport operations difficulties.

Oregon and the United States have a long way to go before
approaching European standards, though.  Many participants noted the
need to continue developing higher-speed conventional rail along
existing routes in the short term, while looking to high-speed rail
as a long-term goal.  One comment urging addition of more
conventional service, quickly, was applauded by many participants.

Union Pacific Railroad Public Affairs Director Brock Nelson said
Union Pacific is ready to discuss with public agencies what’s needed
to expand passenger rail service while meeting the needs of UP’s
customers.  And All Aboard Washington Executive Director Lloyd Flem
acknowledged UP’s willingness to discuss the issue as a great change
from past attitudes towards more rail passenger service.

The summit was organized by Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, with sponsorship
by AORTA and Talgo USA, and included attendees from the City of Eugene,
Lane Transit District (LTD), TriMet, the Oregon and Washington Departments
of Transportation, and other governmental and advocacy organizations.