Thank Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley for Co-sponsoring S. 3728 — Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act.

S. 3728 — The Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act. Introduced by Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), has been cosponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Long-distance passenger rail spans multiple states and cannot reasonably be funded by the state and local commitments expected of shorter corridors. S. 3728 recognizes that the federal government bears primary responsibility for intercity passenger rail at the national scale and removes a planning-stage match barrier that is unworkable across jurisdictions. S. 3728 is operator-neutral — it funds the planning foundation any service provider will need before a single passenger boards.

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Jeff Merkley's endorsement and co-sponsorship of this bill shows a commitment to sustainable, low-emission and equitable access to transportation across the nation. And since this is a barrier that also stands in the way of any effort to restore east-west passenger rail service along the Portland - Boise - Salt Lake City corridor, it also is evidence of Jeff's long-term thinking and ability to consider Oregonians' future.

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Elected representatives regularly hear about all of the things they do wrong, or the things that their constituents dislike about them. When we have policy makers (especially ones that are not commonly considered "transit advocates") take risks to stand up for good public transit policy, it is vital for public transit and rail enthusiasts to express their support. Letting these policy makers know they are on the right track certainly makes them feel good, but more importantly it gives them evidence to show their colleagues and reinforce their confidence to stick to their principles. If no one shows up to say thanks, they may think it's easy to back track or trade away. 

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So let Jeff know how glad we are that he endorsed the Long-Distance Corridor Relief Enhancement Act.